New data analysis has exposed a stark reality within the National Health Service: millions of patients are now turning to Accident and Emergency departments for help with minor conditions like persistent coughs and even hiccups. For frontline staff like Dr Tharanika Ahillan, this trend is an unsurprising symptom of a healthcare system buckling under unprecedented strain.
A System at Breaking Point
A recent analysis by PA Media of NHS figures confirms a significant rise in A&E attendances for non-urgent ailments. This comes against a backdrop of what doctors describe as horrific pressures nationwide. Wait times of 13 hours are not uncommon, with emergency rooms filled with patients suffering from heart attacks, strokes, and severe pain even before a shift begins.
Dr Ahillan points out that while patients cannot be blamed for seeking help – a minor cough can sometimes mask something more serious – the volume is dangerous. "Large numbers in the waiting room can mask those patients most at risk," she explains. This triage nightmare means a patient with chest pain might be seen quickly, but someone with a cough who is actually having a heart attack could be missed for a critical period.
The Human Cost of Underfunding
The consequences are severe and sometimes fatal. The British Medical Association (BMA) reports that waiting times have reached a crisis point. In July 2024, the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for emergency admission was 81 times higher than in July 2019 – a statistic the BMA warns is likely an underestimate.
Distressing examples are now routine in hospitals across the country:
- Young women with undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies waiting for hours until observations reveal their critical condition.
- Stroke patients missing the ideal treatment window for clot removal due to delays, forced to settle for medication alone.
- One young man receiving life-saving treatment on an emergency department floor due to a lack of space.
These scenarios contribute to what a report by Lord Darzi described as the NHS being in a 'critical condition', falling short on key targets for cancer, A&E, and routine treatments, which in turn impacts survival rates.
No Easy Fixes in Sight
Dr Ahillan argues that the crisis in A&E reflects wider failures. Emergency departments have historically absorbed the spillover when people cannot access GPs or pharmacies, especially during periods like Christmas. However, she stresses that simply creating more appointments is not the sole solution.
"We need effective health education campaigns to show people how to better deal with minor illnesses," she states, alongside proper investment to fund robust GP and community services that can keep appropriate cases out of A&E.
The situation has become so normalised that the previous escalation protocols – declaring major incidents or ambulance diverts – are often useless, as all nearby hospitals are in the same dire position. Staff are left exhausted, fighting to provide basic care and forced to say "I did what I could" rather than "I did what I should."
"We're losing our patients when their deaths could have been entirely prevented – and it's soul-destroying," Dr Ahillan writes. She calls for the public and politicians to stand alongside healthcare workers, advocating for the investment and systemic rebuilding needed. "The system can't run on the goodwill of healthcare workers alone," she warns. "Without change, we won't have an NHS."
