Emergency care continues to face record demand as more people than ever before checked for cancer last year

Emergency care continues to face record demand as more people than ever before checked for cancer last year A&Es across the country experienced the busiest May on record with NHS urgent and emergency care staff remaining under significant pressure, new data published today shows.

Emergency departments across the country had the highest number of attendances for any May (2,240,070) – the third highest total since records began – and over 4,500 patients per day more than in April.

The monthly performance statistics also show ambulance crews attended 624,092 face-to-face call-outs last month, the highest number since May 2022 (632,625).

The high demand came after the busiest winter ever for the NHS and in a month with three bank holiday weekends, which traditionally see more people coming forward for urgent and emergency care. NHS England

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to latest NHS performance stats The King's Fund
• NHS Confederation responds to NHS performance statistics for May 2023 NHS Confederation
• Record demand piles pressure on trusts NHS Providers
• Record NHS waiting list continues to grow quickly despite government ambitions Nuffield Trust
• What the latest NHS performance figures show Evening Standard
• NHS chiefs blame staff shortages for record 7.4m people on waiting lists in England The Guardian