Patients are being warned not to clog up A&E with everyday niggles as NHS figures show thousands turned to hospitals for minor ailments such as hiccups and ingrowing toenails last winter.
There were more than 200,000 A&E attendances in England from November to February for conditions that could have been dealt with elsewhere, according to NHS England.
This represents more than 2% of all attendances during that four-month period, taking up vital resources at under-pressure A&Es, health bosses said.
Patients with such minor conditions are being advised to seek help elsewhere, including from pharmacists, GPs and NHS 111 – either via the phone or online – as some of them can be managed at home.
Between 1 November 2024 and 28 February 2025, NHS figures show there were:
- 6,382 visits for nasal congestion
- 83,705 visits for earache
- 96,998 visits for sore throats
- 3,890 visits for ingrowing nails
- 8,669 for itching skin
- 384 for hiccups
The attendances were to either major A&E units or minor injury units run by hospitals.
Research shows one of the factors driving unnecessary A&E visits is difficulty accessing GP services, with latest figures showing more than a fifth of patients cannot get through to their GP on the day they try.
NHS England said patients can get prescription-only medication – traditionally dispensed by GPs – at pharmacies for a range of common conditions, including a sore throat, sinusitis and earache.
It is also releasing a video entitled ’24 Hours Not In A&E’ as part of a social media campaign to help avoid unnecessary visits to A&E departments and GPs.
NHS England urgent and emergency care director Julian Redhead said: “The last place a patient wants to be when they have a minor illness is in a busy A&E – so this winter we’re working hard to expand the number of routes into the NHS so patients can get fast and convenient care closer to them.
“Whether the services are online, over the phone or in person, a variety of doorways to care are open across the NHS.
“As always, use A&E & 999 for life-threatening conditions and serious injuries.”
