NHS England reported that local NHS services in the East of England experienced a surge in demand in June, with over 8,000 more patients attending emergency departments across the region than in the same month last year1. The increase was described as being in part due to the Jubilee bank holiday weekend1. The figure was published in an NHS England East of England news item dated 26 August 2022, which otherwise focused on advice ahead of the August bank holiday weekend1.
The same announcement set out when households should call 999 rather than use online services. The NHS lists signs of a heart attack such as pain like a heavy weight in the centre of your chest, signs of stroke such as your face dropping on one side, and difficulty breathing among the reasons to dial 9991. For other concerns, the NHS 111 online service is described as covering where to get help for symptoms, general health information and advice, emergency supplies of prescribed medicine, repeat prescriptions and emergency dental appointments1.
"Local NHS services experienced a surge in demand in June, in part due to the Jubilee bank holiday weekend, with over 8,000 more patients attending emergency departments across the East of England than in the same month last year."
Catherine Morgan, chief nurse for the NHS in the East of England, said the 111 online service was the most convenient way for people to access care, helping to direct them to the right service quickly as well as providing medical advice, and that people are still encouraged to dial 999 if they have an emergency1. The announcement also stated that many local pharmacies remained open over the bank holiday weekend for people needing to pick up prescriptions or other health advice1. It said information about pharmacies in the East of England open on bank holiday Monday, 29 August, was available on NHS England's website, with the social media accounts of NHS organisations across the region also a reliable source for local services over the weekend1.
Why it matters for households
The figures cover the East of England and relate to June 2022; no breakdown by county, hospital or day has been reported in the announcement1. The practical point for households is the route into care set out by the NHS: 111 online for advice and direction to the right service, which can include a clinician calling the patient back to discuss their symptoms or the patient being referred on to one of a wide range of services, and 999 for the emergency signs listed above1. The NHS also stated that people should not delay and should come forward for care as soon as they need it1. Further detail on preparing for health emergencies is set out in the site's health emergencies hub.
What happens next
No further monthly attendance figures for the East of England are given in the announcement; it states that statistics on emergency department attendances are available on NHS England's website1. The pharmacy opening information cited relates to bank holiday Monday, 29 August 20221.
