This summer was the busiest ever for the NHS, with with A&E attendances in June, July and August topping 7.2m (7,268,445), the highest ever total for the summer period. This is more than 240,000 more attendances than the same period last year (7,027,384).
The figures coincide with five heatwaves between May and August.
Despite the demand, NHS staff treated, admitted, or discharged the highest ever number of A&E patients within four hours (5,462,182) over this period.
There were also a record number of ambulance call outs this summer: 2,455,833 between June and August, which is up more than 130,000 than in the same period last year (2,322,891).
100,000 more 111 calls were answered in June and July this year (3,051,137) compared with the same months last year (2,949,390).
Figures for cancer referrals shows that a record number of people (308,200) were seen in July following an urgent suspected cancer referral. All three key cancer waiting time measures also showed an improvement in July compared with the previous month.
NHS National Medical Director Frankie Swords said: “Despite a scorching summer which has tested the NHS like never before and seen demand rocket to record levels, staff have risen to the challenge magnificently to deliver for patients.
“While the NHS has been preparing for the coming winter earlier than ever before and resilience testing around winter plans has already begun, we have never gone into winter on the back of such a heavy summer, but today’s figures show the NHS is there when patients need it and we are improving care in vital life-saving areas for patients and their families.”
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said: “This has been the most demanding summer on record for our A&E and ambulance staff, with heavy pressure on our NHS and winter still to come.
“I want to pay tribute to the incredible dedication of NHS staff. Despite unprecedented demand, they managed to see a record number of patients within four hours in A&E over the summer.
“With the support of this Government, the NHS has worked hard to strengthen its ability to respond to these challenges, but the reality is that extreme demand is no longer confined to winter. That’s why we’re backing the NHS with record investment and rolling out plans to support services through both summer and winter pressure.”
