Big rise in people going to A&E in England for minor ailments, data shows

Stretched primary services causing increase in emergency visits for issues from coughs to hiccups, health leaders say

The number of people turning to A&E departments in England for minor ailments including hiccups, sore throats and coughs is soaring, as senior health leaders warn that NHS primary and community services are massively overstretched".

NHS data shows a large increase in people arriving at emergency departments for non-emergency ailments including backache, insomnia and earache.