Overview
- NHS data for 2020/21–2024/25 show millions of attendances for minor complaints, including almost 1.9 million headaches, 1.4 million coughs and 1.2 million sore throats.
- Attendances for cough rose nearly tenfold, from about 44,962 in 2020/21 to 435,728 in 2024/25, while some emergencies such as cardiac arrests stayed broadly stable.
- In 2024/25, clinicians recorded “no abnormality detected” for about 2.2 million A&E visits, and more than half a million patients left before receiving a first diagnosis.
- Emergency doctors and provider leaders say the trend reflects limited access to timely GP and community services, and urge a faster rollout of neighbourhood healthcare and greater use of community pharmacies.
- NHS England is steering people to alternatives such as NHS 111 and urgent treatment centres, the government has deployed 500 new ambulances, and local trusts including in Suffolk are asking patients to consider options before attending A&E during winter pressures.