England A&E Hits Record 2.43 Million Visits

England's accident and emergency departments recorded their highest number of attendances ever last month, with 2.43 million patients seeking urgent care, according to NHS figures released Thursday. The surge, which exceeded the previous record of 2.41 million set in May 2024, was attributed in part to a meningitis outbreak in Kent that killed two young people and hospitalized others, alongside ongoing pressures from a prolonged winter.

The outbreak, centered in the Canterbury area, involved 21 confirmed cases of meningococcal group B, all requiring hospitalization. Among the victims were a University of Kent student and 18-year-old sixth-former Juliette Kenny from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham. In response, health officials administered preventive antibiotics to more than 2,000 students linked to events at a local nightclub and provided MenB vaccinations to around 12,000 people, including an expanded program for year 11, sixth-form, and university students in Kent and Medway. By late March, cases had declined to 20 confirmed and three under investigation, with some initial diagnoses revised after further testing.

Despite the unprecedented demand, A&E performance...