In this Article:
01: Over 540,000 patients walked out of A&E last year before being seen 02: The 10 most common reasons for visiting A&E in England03: The reasons for visiting A&E that saw the highest increase over the past six yearsOver 540,000 patients walked out of A&E last year before being seen
NHS data shows that 541,451 patients left A&E before being seen last year from March 2025 to March 2026, which is equivalent to around 2% of all attendances, or one in every 49 visits. The number has remained above 500,000 every year since 2021/22, reaching a six-year peak of 624,367 in 2022/23.
Doctors also recorded “no abnormality was detected” for 2.3 million A&E attendances in 2025-26, meaning that test results or clinical assessment showed nothing unusual. While more than half a million patients walked out before a first diagnosis was made, the figures show.
There will be a range of individual reasons why someone may leave before being seen, and the available data does not explain each case; however, waiting times provide important context. In 2024/25, around 75% of A&E patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours, while around 1.81 million waited more than 12 hours [3]. These figures highlight the extent of delays faced by some patients, although they do not establish that waiting times were the direct reason people left.
The NHS does not publish a breakdown of where patients go after leaving A&E before being seen, meaning it is unclear whether they subsequently seek medical attention elsewhere or do not receive further care.
The figures show that more than half a million patients have left before being seen each year in recent years; however, this represents a relatively small proportion of overall A&E activity.
The 10 most common reasons for visiting A&E in England
The table below shows the ten most common reasons for A&E visits from 2020/21 to 2025/26, with fever topping the list with over three and a half million visits. The table also reveals the month when the reason peaks and the percentage difference above the average.
| Reason for A&E visit | Month visits peak* | % Difference from max month to average* | Total number of visits in the past 6 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever (finding) | December | 82.49% | 3,648,713 |
| Asthenia (finding) | December | 9.85% | 3,199,230 |
| Skin problem (finding) | July | 15.73% | 2,731,990 |
| Headache (finding) | March | 15.12% | 2,370,002 |
| Backache (finding) | March | 6.51% | 2,041,693 |
| Laceration - injury (disorder) | July | 19.61% | 1,985,910 |
| Vomiting (disorder) | March | 12.29% | 1,951,094 |
| Eruption of skin (disorder) | March | 10.28% | 1,940,638 |
| Cough (finding) | December | 106.77% | 1,720,485 |
| Sore throat symptom (finding) | December | 37.90% | 1,494,981 |
*NHS monthly breakdown data is only available from March 2022 to March 2026
Fever is the most common reason to visit A&E in England
A fever is the leading reason to visit A&E in England, with 3.65 million overall visits since 2020/21, with the peak month being December, which sees 82.49% above-average cases.
Coughs are also among the ten most common reasons to visit A&E, and see a 106.77% spike in December (more than doubling its monthly baseline), with sore throats (in 10th) also seeing a 37.90% above-average increase during the month.
Read more on cough, cold and flu symptoms on our health hub.
Skin problems and lacerations see A&E attendance peaks in summer
General skin problems are some of the most common reasons to visit accident and emergency, with 2.73 million visits for skin problems (3rd), 1.99 million visits for lacerations (6th), and 1.94 million visits for eruption of skin (nearly 6.66 million combined).
Both skin problems and lacerations see a mid-summer surge in July, showing a 19.61% increase for lacerations and a 15.73% increase for skin conditions above monthly averages. This indicates that warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and outdoor recreation may lead to higher rates of physical trauma, sun exposure, and skin reactions.
Visit our health hub for skincare advice.
Over 2.3 million people have visited A&E for a headache, with March seeing the largest peak
Over six years, ailments including headaches (2.37M), backaches (2.04M), and vomiting (1.95M) have racked up millions of visits, with March seeing the largest peak for these cases.
Unlike the attendance spikes seen in winter, spring presents a much flatter baseline. While several conditions experience a mild increase in March, conditions such as backache remain steady throughout the year, recording the top ten’s lowest variance at just 6.51% above average, indicating a constant stream of emergency care visits rather than a seasonal surge.
For more on headache and migraines, see our advice page.
The reasons for visiting A&E that saw the highest increase over the past six years
With the NHS facing its busiest summer on record in 2026, the data highlights a growing pattern of demand coming from a range of visits. While some ailments have seen sharp percentage increases, the figures do not indicate the severity of the individual cases.
The strongest six-year growth for visits for coughs was 644%, followed by asymptomatic attendees (+423%) and bilateral lower-limb swelling (+339%).
| Reason for A&E visit | 6yr% |
|---|---|
| Cough (finding) | 644.32% |
| Asymptomatic (finding) | 423.07% |
| Swelling of bilateral lower limbs (finding) | 339.35% |
| Breast problem (finding) | 289.58% |
| Sore throat symptom (finding) | 240.30% |
| Pharyngeal swelling (finding) | 234.69% |
| Nasal congestion (finding) | 230.41% |
| Vaginal problem (finding) | 227.94% |
| Postoperative complication (disorder) | 215.01% |
| Ear discharge (finding) | 190.77% |
Visits to A&E for a cough are 7.4x higher in 2026 than in 2020
NHS A&E attendance data from March 2020 - March 2026 reveals that visits for a cough saw the most significant increase over the years at 644.32%, rising from 44,249 visits in 2020/21 to 329,356 in 2025/26. The highest year for attendances for a cough was 2024/25, with 435,728 visits.
A cough can range from a mild, dry cough after a cold to a severe cough associated with a serious chest or lung problem. While the NHS data records the number of A&E attendances involving coughs, it does not provide enough clinical detail to determine the seriousness of each case, and whether an alternative setting such as a GP or pharmacist would be more appropriate.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if a cough lasts more than three weeks, or if you're losing weight without explanation or have a weakened immune system; seek urgent advice like 111 or A&E if you have severe, difficult breathing, chest pains, sudden confusion, visible blood or pale lips/skin.
Read more on cough, cold and flu symptoms on our health hub.
Sore throat and nasal congestion cases rise by over 200%
The number of people visiting A&E since 2020/21 for cases of a sore throat and nasal congestion has increased rapidly, both reporting an increase of over 230%.
Nasal congestion cases sat at just 5,436 in 2020/21 before reaching a record high of 17,961 in 2025/26. Sore throat cases followed a similar pattern, rising from 79,130 to 269,282 over the same time period, totalling nearly 1.5 million cases in the past six years.
Sore throats and nasal congestion are typically indicative of a routine cold or flu; although they also may occur alongside more serious conditions. For general advice on managing these symptoms, and when to seek medical attention, refer to NHS guidance.
Read here for causes and symptoms of a sore throat.
Breast and vaginal problems both increase over 220% since 2020/21
A&E attendances recorded under breast and vaginal problems have increased significantly over the past six years, rising by 289.58% (breast) and 227.94% (vaginal).
These categories cover a broad range of symptoms and conditions, despite the NHS data not identifying individual circumstances behind the visits. Separately, NHS figures show 570,000 women were on the NHS gynaecology waiting list in May 2026[4]. A&E has effectively become a safety net for symptoms that should be seen in specialist clinics. In fact, it was reported that 25% of women waiting for gynaecology care said they had attended A&E because of their symptoms[5].
Visit our women’s health hub for more information.
Pharmacy2U provides access to medical advice & Online Doctor services
This data shows that the National Health Service is facing record demand across its accident and emergency services. While this puts additional pressure on NHS capacity, it also highlights that more people are seeking support for their health and wellbeing.
Duncan Reid, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist at Pharmacy2U comments "Knowing where to turn for different health concerns can be difficult, particularly when symptoms are worrying or unfamiliar. For non-emergency health concerns, seeking advice from an appropriate healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, GP or other healthcare provider, can help people access timely support and guidance on the most appropriate next steps for their care."
“Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who can provide advice and support for a wide range of common health concerns. Some pharmacists are qualified independent prescribers and may be able to provide prescription medicines where clinically appropriate and within the scope of local NHS services, without the need to see a GP first.”
Whether it’s pain relief, first aid or prescriptions, the Pharmacy2U platform is available with a wide range of advice and the ability to order prescriptions, helping people manage everyday health concerns quickly, conveniently and with confidence, while supporting a more sustainable NHS.
Sources
[4] NHS England elective data, covering June 2026, gynaecology waiting list
[5] Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) report Waiting for a way forward
Methodology
Pharmacy2U used NHS-published data on A&E attendance from the years 2020/21 to 2025/26 to create a comprehensive overview of the most common reasons for visits, which months see spikes and overall patterns in attendance. The analysis was carried out in September 2026.