New figures out today show the number people attending A&E between November and February topped 9 million (9,110 591) this winter for the first time in NHS history – along with almost 130,000 more patients handed over by ambulances compared with winter 3 years ago.

Waiting times for patients this winter were the shortest in 4 years as NHS planning paid off for patients. The number of patients attending A&E who were admitted, transferred, or discharged within 4 hours of arrival at emergency departments was at its highest rate this winter (73.6%) since 2021/22, when it was 73.8%.

Read more – NHSE (12/3/26)