A&E visits hit record high in June as heatwave struck UK

An average of 80,000 people visited A&E every day for the first time in June, when record temperatures hit the UK.

The NHS said it was under as much pressure as in the winter months, with staff facing a “burst in demand” due to heatwaves and the World Cup.

Average daily A&E attendance reached 81,264 for the first time last month, setting a new daily attendance record.

Record A&E visits occurred on 26 June, when temperatures reached 37.7°C in Lingwood, Norfolk, and red health heat warnings were issued across England.

Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, said: “These figures show that summer puts the NHS under just as much pressure as winter, as staffing demands are so acute, and we need to prepare for it in the same way.

“What we’re seeing on the pitch is that Mondays are really busy after the weekends of football and sunshine, so please don’t delay coming forward for maintenance when you need it, even if it’s early in the weekend.

“During the ongoing hot weather, please take precautions such as staying hydrated and check on loved ones or vulnerable people, and as always in emergencies please call 999, otherwise use 111.”

During the June heatwave, many hospitals declared critical incidents and University Hospital Southampton was forced to cancel some planned surgeries and outpatient appointments.

Health chiefs have warned that conditions are affecting services as life-threatening emergency calls are coming in at a much higher rate.

“These figures show the NHS is under pressure throughout the year, with extreme heat, fragile buildings, corridor maintenance and unresolved workforce tensions all highlighting how little resilience remains in the system,” said Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund.

“We know that the extreme heatwave in June will affect vulnerable groups and contribute to this pressure by increasing heat-related conditions. It is also notable that these extreme weather conditions are likely to become more common.”

NHS figures also show the busiest three months in NHS history are in 2026; because healthcare is managing a demand that has never been seen before in its history.

894,143 calls to 999 were answered in June; This means an average of 29,805 calls per day; this is 10 percent higher than last June.

There were almost 2,000 more ambulance incidents each day in June (27,171) compared to June last year (25,322); This represents an increase of more than 7 percent.

The number of people seen in A&E within four hours was 75 per cent; This rate decreased by just over half a point compared to June last year.

In the busiest period ever in NHS history, the number of people waiting for planned care within 18 weeks rose slightly to 65.6 per cent in May, compared to 65 per cent in April.

The overall waiting list increased to 7.28 million in May, an increase of 60,153 from April.

The NHS has also published data on corridor care for the second time; More foundations reported figures this month compared to last month’s preliminary data. Nationwide, there were an average of 2,432 patients per day receiving corridor care in emergency departments and 749 patients receiving corridor care elsewhere in the hospital.

Health and Social Services Secretary James Murray said: “Despite record temperatures and the busiest summer in NHS history, healthcare staff have continued to care for patients and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their extraordinary dedication.

“More people have now been treated in 18 weeks than at any point since 2021, while three in four A&E patients have been seen within four hours.”