Patients at several New York City public hospitals are waiting far longer than federal standards to move from emergency departments into inpatient beds, with Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn reporting some of the longest delays, according to The City Reporter.
From January through May 2026, patients at Kings County waited an average of 27.3 hours for an inpatient bed, while Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens recorded nearly 24 hours. Across NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, the average wait was 12.8 hours from 2022 through 2025.
Federal emergency care standards call for patients to be transferred to an inpatient bed within four hours after the decision to admit, with total emergency department stays generally not exceeding eight hours.
“The ER is such a busy place, they’re surrounded by noise, monitors beeping, constantly going off, and lights being so bright,” said Harinee Suthakar, a nurse at Kings County. “It’s a very challenging circumstance for a patient to be in.”
The delays have raised concerns about hospital capacity and the growing demand placed on emergency departments.
Brooklyn has lost more than 1,600 hospital beds since 2010 through hospital closures and consolidations, according to an analysis by the New York State Nurses Association.
The losses include beds at Long Island College Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. Meanwhile, Kings County emergency department visits increased from about 92,450 in 2022 to more than 102,000 in 2024.
Patients waiting for inpatient beds can remain in crowded emergency departments after their immediate emergency needs have been addressed. Medical experts say prolonged stays can contribute to missed medications, delayed treatment and difficulty accessing basic assistance.
NYC Health + Hospitals said its emergency departments have improved in other areas, including faster door-to-provider times and fewer patients leaving before being seen. Kings County also added physicians and nurses as emergency visits increased.
With more than 1 million New Yorkers relying on the city’s public hospital system, continued bed shortages could put additional pressure on Brooklyn facilities. Recent health insurance losses and seasonal respiratory illnesses could further increase emergency department demand in the months ahead.
