NHS England said summer 2026 was its busiest on record for A&E and ambulances.
Why it matters: Higher emergency demand can slow A&E flow, delay treatment and leave less capacity for routine care. It also adds pressure on hospitals already trying to cut waiting lists.
- June-August 2026 A&E attendances hit 7,268,445, the highest summer total on record.
- 5,462,182 patients were seen within four hours in A&E over the summer, also a record for that period.
- Ambulance call-outs reached 2,455,833, more than 130,000 above the same period in 2025.
- NHS England said the summer included five heatwaves between May and August 2026, while the routine-treatment waiting list rose to a nine-month high.
NHS England said on 10 September that England's health service had its busiest summer in history, with emergency demand rising across A&E and ambulance services during five heatwaves between May and August 2026. The summer total of 7,268,445 A&E attendances was the highest on record.
Even with that pressure, the NHS said more patients than ever were treated, admitted or discharged within four hours in A&E - 5,462,182 across June-August. Ambulance activity also set a summer record, with 2,455,833 call-outs, more than 130,000 higher than the same period in 2025.
In August, NHS England said extreme heat was adding to admissions through more outdoor activity, respiratory issues linked to dry weather and worsening underlying conditions. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the pressure showed extreme demand was now "no longer confined to winter", while NHS National Medical Director Frankie Swords pointed to the effect of repeated hot weather on services.
The pressure was visible in London too. NHS London said the capital had more than 428,000 A&E attendances in June alone, and London Ambulance Service answered more than 8,800 emergency calls in a single day during the June heatwave, its highest daily total in history.
The Met Office said summer 2026 was provisionally the UK's hottest on record. It also estimated more than 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves.
By the numbers
- 7,268,445 - June-August 2026 A&E attendances, the highest summer total on record.
- 2,455,833 - Ambulance call-outs across the summer, more than 130,000 above the same period in 2025.
- 2,700-plus - The Met Office's estimate of excess deaths in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves.
Yes, but: The Met Office's excess-deaths figure is an estimate tied to its heatwave analysis, not a final mortality total.
What's next: NHS England will continue reporting on autumn and winter pressure as hospitals face seasonal demand and ongoing waiting-list backlogs.