NHS reports busiest ever summer as heatwaves drive up hospital admissions
Summary
The NHS experienced its busiest summer ever due to heatwaves in the UK, with record numbers of people visiting A&E (Accident & Emergency) and ambulances responding to calls. Waiting lists for routine hospital treatments in England have also grown, reaching the highest level in nine months.Key Facts
- Nearly 7.3 million people attended A&E between June and August, about 1 million more than last summer.
- Ambulances handled around 2.4 million callouts during the same period, setting a new record.
- Waiting lists for hospital treatments rose to 7.33 million treatments for 6.21 million patients by the end of July.
- More than 111,000 people had waited over a year for routine treatment by July, up from about 105,000 in June.
- About 65.4% of patients started treatment within 18 weeks of referral in July, slightly below June but above the government target of 65%.
- An average of 2,973 patients were treated in corridors daily in August due to lack of space.
- Health leaders note that extreme heat now adds major pressure on the NHS alongside winter, reducing chances to recover between busy periods.
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