NHS staff are facing an 'onslaught of demand' this summer, with new data showing the health service is under just as much pressure as it typically experiences in winter. The number of patients receiving corridor care in England increased in June, as heatwaves continue to strain the NHS.
Corridor care on the rise
An average of 2,432 patients received corridor care in A&E departments in England each day in June, along with 749 elsewhere in hospital wards, totalling 3,181. This is up from 2,242 in A&E and 658 in hospital wards each day in May, totalling 2,900. The figures, published by NHS England, cover patients who receive corridor care for at least 45 minutes, meaning care did not take place in a clinically appropriate and safe setting.
Waiting list reaches highest since December
The waiting list for routine hospital treatment increased for the second consecutive month to its highest since December. An estimated 7.28 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of May, relating to 6.16 million patients, up from 7.22 million treatments and 6.11 million patients at the end of April. The number of people waiting more than a year rose to 104,734 at the end of May, up from 99,781 at the end of April.
NHS medical director comments
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, said: “These figures show that summer is now putting the NHS under just as much pressure as winter, with staff facing an onslaught of demand – and we have to prepare for it in the same way. Staff are currently experiencing the busiest months of their career, but they are delivering for patients despite this record demand.” Prof Swords added that Mondays have been particularly busy for emergency departments amid weekend heatwaves and the World Cup.
Heatwaves add strain
Bea Taylor, fellow at think tank Nuffield Trust, said there is “no doubt” that heatwaves are putting additional strain on the health service. She said: “The health service is used to dealing with the extra pressure that winter brings each year, but climate change means hospitals are now facing multiple shocks throughout the summer months too.”
Performance metrics
Despite the pressures, 65.6% of patients began hospital treatment within 18 weeks of referral, up slightly from 65.0% in April. The Government and NHS England set an interim target of March this year for the figure to reach 65% and have pledged that 92% of patients will be seen in this timeframe by the end of the current parliament in 2029. Health Secretary James Murray said: “Even in the face of record temperatures and the busiest summer in NHS history, healthcare staff have continued to deliver for patients and I want to thank every one of them for their extraordinary dedication. More people are now being treated within 18 weeks than at any point since 2021, while three in four A&E patients were seen within four hours.”
