The NHS faced its busiest month on record in June, with average daily A&E attendances rising above 80,000 for the first time, according to new figures published by NHS England. The data came as patient confidence in general practice and pharmacy services continued to improve, suggesting that access across primary care is gradually strengthening even as hospitals come under intense seasonal pressure.
Record demand across emergency care
NHS England said average daily A&E attendances reached 81,264 in June, marking a new daily record. The service described the period as a “summer onslaught”, with record heatwaves and the World Cup contributing to exceptionally high demand. It was also the third busiest month in NHS history in 2026, underlining how heavily the system is being tested this year.
Alongside the rise in attendances, ambulance activity also increased. There were 894,143 calls to 999 answered in June, while ambulance incidents averaged 27,171 per day, up 7.3% compared with the same month last year. The number of people seen within four hours in A&E was 75%, slightly down year on year.
Primary care access continues to improve
While urgent and emergency services were under strain, the latest GP Patient Survey pointed to continued recovery in patient experience. NHS England said 76.7% of patients rated their overall experience of their GP practice as good, up from 75.4% the previous year. Use of online services also increased, with 79.2% of respondents using them in the last 12 months and 30.8% contacting their practice online.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care, said the improvement reflected changes made by practices to make access easier and more convenient, including better phone systems, expanded online services and greater use of the NHS App. She said these changes were giving patients more choice in how they access care and were making a real difference to their experience.
Waiting lists remain a concern
Despite the positive movement in primary care, pressure on planned care remains significant. The proportion of people waiting within 18 weeks for treatment increased slightly to 65.6% in May, while the overall waiting list rose to 7.28 million. NHS England also published corridor care data for a second time, reporting an average of 2,432 instances in emergency departments and 749 patients receiving corridor care elsewhere in hospital each day.
Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said the figures showed staff were continuing to deliver for patients despite record temperatures and the busiest summer in NHS history. He added that more people are now being treated within 18 weeks than at any point since 2021, and said the government remains focused on reducing waiting times and improving care.
With demand rising across emergency services and long waits still affecting planned treatment, the latest figures show a health system balancing signs of progress in primary care with persistent strain elsewhere. NHS leaders say the challenge now is to keep improving access while preparing for continued pressure through the rest of the summer.
For more information, see the NHS England report.
