Overview
- NHS England reported a record 2.5 million A&E attendances in July, making May to July the three busiest months on record for emergency departments.
- Operational measures showed short-term gains in June and July with 2.65 million diagnostic tests delivered in June, the elective waiting list falling to 7.27 million in June, and A&E four-hour performance improving to 75.4% in July.
- Patient-flow and capacity problems remain serious with published corridor-care figures averaging 3,028 patients per day in July for those held at least 45 minutes in corridors or makeshift spaces and 47,438 people waiting more than 12 hours from decision to admit in July.
- Ambulance services reported very high demand with 829,675 incidents handled in July and 999 calls up 6.5% year-on-year, forcing local trusts to manage handover delays and occasional site-direction of crews to balance pressure.
- Health leaders and the health secretary have urged formal summer preparedness comparable to winter plans and warned that heat-driven spikes in dehydration, falls and worsening chronic conditions will continue to strain hospitals and staff unless seasonal planning improves.