NHS England's top doctor has urged people to stay safe as temperatures could hit 38C in places today, with new data showing record pressure on A&E departments during the fifth heatwave of the summer.
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS National Medical Director, said: "With temperatures peaking today, please take sensible precautions to stay safe: keep hydrated, avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day especially if you are clinically vulnerable, and check in on older or vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours.
Record A&E attendances and falling waiting list
A&Es saw a record 2.5 million attendances last month amid two heatwaves, with new NHS data showing the three busiest months ever recorded were from May to July. The elective waiting list in England fell for the first time in two months, edging down by 6,093 in June to 7.27 million, down from 7.28 million in May.
The backlog remains higher than at the start of the year but has dropped by around 100,000 patients compared to the same month last year. Some 75.4% of patients were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, up from 75.0% in June. The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments stood at 47,438, down from 49,466.
Pressure on services and staff
Health chiefs say this summer has seen unprecedented pressure, with more people outdoors and breathing conditions worsened by high temperatures. Professor Swords added: "Like many members of the public, NHS staff are enjoying the lovely weather outside of work, but the heat is making day-to-day working more challenging while also driving up pressure on services. But staff are as ever demonstrating outstanding professionalism, flexibility and hard work in the face of this summer surge."
While the NHS is busy, it is here for anyone who needs it, so please continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency and otherwise use NHS 111.
Historical context and government response
The waiting list had been on an upward trend for a decade under previous Conservative governments, passing three million in 2014, four million in 2017, five million in 2021, and peaking at 7.8 million in 2023 before Labour came to power in 2024.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "I want to thank NHS staff for their extraordinary efforts over this hugely challenging summer. Despite the extreme heat and record demand that NHS staff have faced, more than three quarters of patients were seen within four hours in A&E, a record 2.65 million diagnostic tests and checks were carried out in a single month, and the waiting list has fallen in the month of June for the first time since 2011.
"Today's figures also show how much of an additional burden is placed on the NHS during periods of extreme heat, and I have made clear that we must start planning for summer pressures in the NHS in the same way we do for winter. That's why I'm working closely with NHS leaders to put those plans in place, and ensure that our staffing, beds and emergency services are prepared for the demand we know is likely to come, and that our health service can keep delivering for patients, no matter the weather."
