Rise in visits to A&E at the North East London Trust

An accident and emergency sign outside Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, where Lalene Malik, 23, went to A&E with stomach cramps on March 26 and gave birth to her baby in the toilets, having not known she was pregant and with no outward physical signs of pregnancy. Picture date: Wednesday April 13, 2022.

More patients visited A&E at the North East London Trust last month, with demand rising above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 2,742 patients visited A&E at North East London NHS Foundation Trust in May.

That was a rise of 29% on the 2,118 visits recorded during April, and 22% more than the 2,243 patients seen in May 2021.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic – in May 2020, there were 2,105 visits to A&E at sites run by the North East London Trust.

All of last month's attendances were via minor A&E departments – those which treat minor injuries and illnesses such as fractures, cuts and bruises.

Across England, A&E departments received 2.2 million visits last month.

That was an increase of 8% compared to April, and 5% more than the 2.1 million seen during May 2021.