Hundreds of thousands of patients went to A&E last winter for everyday niggles such as hiccups and ingrowing toenails, new NHS figures show. More than 200,000 attendances were for conditions that could have been treated elsewhere — including 96,998 for sore throat and 83,705 for earache.
The NHS is expanding access to care and running a public information campaign to reduce avoidable A&E visits as flu cases rise and junior doctors plan strikes from 17–22 December — a period NHS England’s CEO Sir Jim Mackey said is particularly risky for hospitals.
Pharmacy First now provides quick support, including some prescription-only medicines, for seven common conditions such as sore throat, sinusitis and earache. For the first time during winter, pharmacists can also supply an emergency contraceptive pill and offer help to people newly prescribed antidepressants.
Primary care is shifting online: 98.7% of GP practices now accept online consultation requests, and around 8 million patients used that service in October. The NHS has released a short film, “24 Hours Not In A&E,” to help people choose the right service and avoid unnecessary emergency visits. The NHS App likewise lets patients request appointments, view records, receive reminders and order repeat prescriptions.
New urgent treatment centres have opened in locations including Plymouth, Lymington and Yeovil. These centres can investigate, diagnose and treat many injuries and illnesses commonly seen in A&E, are open at least 12 hours a day, and accept both walk-ins and appointments booked via NHS 111.
A&Es are already busier heading into winter: attendances in October were 37,000 higher than the same month last year. Julian Redhead, NHS national director of urgent and emergency care, warned that A&E is the last place for minor illness and urged people to use the full range of services. He reiterated that A&E and 999 should be reserved for life-threatening conditions and serious injuries, while NHS 111 (phone or online) can direct people to the most appropriate local care — for example, a pharmacy, a walk-in centre or clinical self-help advice.
Official data show 200,028 A&E attendances in England between 1 November 2024 and 28 February 2025 for the following conditions:
– Nasal congestion: 6,382
– Earache: 83,705
– Sore throat: 96,998
– Ingrowing nails: 3,890
– Itching skin: 8,669
– Hiccups: 384
Comparisons with summer 2024 reveal notable increases: blocked nose attendances rose nearly a third (4,943 to 6,382), sore throat cases increased 12% (86,343 to 96,998) and earache attendances rose 11% (75,152 to 83,705).
So far this autumn the NHS has delivered 16,334,878 flu vaccines — more than 450,000 more than at the same point last year (15,881,979, week ending 18 November 2024) — to try to reduce serious illness and hospital admissions.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting warned this winter is likely to be one of the busiest for the NHS, with rising flu and pressure across A&Es, and criticised the BMA’s decision to strike close to Christmas. He said steps are being taken to keep patients safe and urged the public to reserve A&E for genuine emergencies.
GP Dr Ellie Cannon, who appears in the NHS video, said knowing where to seek care can make a big difference. Rather than defaulting to GP appointment queues or A&E, she encouraged people to use community pharmacies for minor illnesses, NHS 111 for urgent advice, and online services such as the NHS App or GP practice websites for faster, more convenient care.
