Patients clogging A&E with hiccups, sore throats and other niggles

"Nick TriggleHealth correspondent Getty Images Patients are being warned not to clog up A&E with everyday niggles as NHS figures show thousands turned to hospitals for minor ailments such as hiccups and ingrowing toenails last winter. There were more than 200,000 A&E attendances in England from November to February for conditions that could have been dealt with elsewhere, according to NHS England. This represents more than 2% of all attendances during that four-month period, taking up vital resources at under-pressure A&Es, health bosses said."

"Patients with such minor conditions are being advised to seek help elsewhere, including from pharmacists, GPs and NHS 111 either via the phone or online as some of them can be managed at home. Between 1 November 2024 and 28 February 2025, NHS figures show there were: 6,382 visits for nasal congestion 83,705 visits for earache 96,998 visits for sore throats 3,890 visits for ingrowing nails 8,669 for itching skin 384 for hiccups"

"Research shows one of the factors driving unnecessary A&E visits is difficulty accessing GP services, with latest figures showing more than a fifth of patients cannot get through to their GP on the day they try. NHS England said patients can get prescription-only medication traditionally dispensed by GPs at pharmacies for a range of common conditions, including a sore throat, sinusitis and earache."

NHS figures show over 200,000 A&E attendances in England between November and February were for minor conditions that could have been treated elsewhere, accounting for more than 2% of attendances. Specific attendances included nasal congestion, earache, sore throats, ingrowing nails, itching skin and hiccups. Patients are advised to seek help from pharmacists, GPs or NHS 111 by phone or online, and some minor conditions can be managed at home. Difficulty accessing GP services contributes to unnecessary A&E visits, with over a fifth of patients unable to get through to their GP on the same day. Pharmacies can supply some prescription-only medicines for common conditions. NHS England is running a '24 Hours Not In A&E' social media campaign to reduce unnecessary visits.

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