Multiple reports say older people are more likely than younger patients to experience long waits in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. One outlet cites findings from a think-tank indicating a significant disparity by age, with people aged 81 and over facing worse access to timely assessment. The reported measure focuses on the length of time patients wait before being seen, using a threshold of more than 12 hours. The research summary states that around 40% of patients in the oldest age group wait longer than 12 hours. The same reports frame the issue as a broader pattern, suggesting that as age increases, the likelihood of prolonged waiting rises. However, the available excerpts do not provide additional details such as the geographic scope of the research, the time period studied, or how “wait time” is defined beyond the 12-hour benchmark. Overall, the outlets agree that older A&E patients face longer waiting times than younger patients based on the think-tank’s analysis.