Health

Patients clogging A&E with hiccups, sore throats and other niggles

December 4, 2025

NHS England has reported that over 200,000 A&E visits last winter were for minor ailments, accounting for more than 2% of all attendances. Health officials are urging patients to avoid clogging emergency departments with everyday issues like hiccups and sore throats, and to seek alternative care from pharmacists or GPs instead.

Ambulance teams work in the Accident and Emergency zone of St Thomas' Hospital on December 19, 2022 in London, England

Credit: Co

Key Highlights

Over 200,000 A&E attendances in England were for minor ailments from November to February.
These minor conditions constituted more than 2% of total A&E visits during that period.
Health officials advise seeking help from pharmacists, GPs, or NHS 111 for non-emergency issues.
The high volume of minor cases is putting additional pressure on A&E resources.

Sources

Patients clogging A&E with hiccups, sore throats and other niggles

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

Patients clogging A&E with hiccups, sore throats and other niggles

Key Highlights

Sources

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