Health officials have issued a stark warning as the NHS braces for one of its busiest winters on record, revealing that hundreds of people visited Accident and Emergency departments for hiccups alone last year.
A&E "Under Siege" from Minor Complaints
New data from NHS England shows that emergency units across the country are being inundated with cases that could be treated elsewhere. Between November 2024 and March 2025, A&E staff dealt with a startling array of non-urgent conditions.
The figures reveal that emergency departments in England treated:
- 384 people suffering from hiccups.
- 96,998 patients who sought help for a sore throat.
- 8,669 cases of itchy skin.
- More than 6,000 cases of blocked noses.
- Almost 84,000 instances of earache.
- 3,890 cases of ingrowing toenails.
In total, over 200,000 people attended A&E in England last year for issues that officials say could have been handled by GPs, pharmacists, or other NHS services.
Winter Pressures and Strike Action Loom
The alert comes as the health service faces a perfect storm of seasonal pressures and industrial action. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has voiced serious concerns, stating that "A&Es should be accident and emergency, not anything and everything".
Mr Streeting warned that the system is facing immense strain. "This winter will be one of the busiest ever for our hard-working NHS staff dealing with soaring flu cases and tough pressures across A&Es up and down the country," he said.
The situation is expected to be exacerbated by a five-day walkout by resident doctors, planned to begin on December 17. The Health Secretary labelled the British Medical Association's decision as "dangerously reckless", citing the anxiety it will cause patients and families in the run-up to Christmas.
Public Urged to Choose Care Wisely
In response, NHS leaders have launched a campaign to direct patients to the most appropriate service. Julian Redhead, NHS England's National Director of Urgent and Emergency Care, emphasised that "the last place a patient wants to be when they have a minor illness is in a busy A&E".
The NHS is working to expand routes into care, including online, phone, and in-person services. However, with a flu wave and strikes anticipated, the call for public cooperation is urgent.
Wes Streeting made a direct appeal: "We can all do our bit this winter by making sure we only use A&E for genuine accidents and emergencies." The message is clear: using emergency departments for minor ailments risks overwhelming the system and delaying care for those in critical need.
