A HOSPITAL trust has avoided a surge in A&E attendances which has hit other trusts across England during July's heatwave.

Nationally record numbers of people flooded to emergency departments in July, with respiratory problems, dehydration and other illnesses associated with the hot weather.

There were almost 2.2 million attendances, 100,000 more people than in July 2017, which NHS England said was an 'unprecedented summer surge.'

But at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust the number of people attending A&E dropped.

Last month 16,369 patients visited the trust’s emergency departments, 1,123 fewer than July 2017.

At the trust, 82.5 per cent of people were seen, treated and admitted or discharged in the four hour target period.

The figure is better than July 2017 when 78.6 per cent were dealt with in four hours.

The trust thanked A&E staff for their 'great professionalism and compassion'.

Hospitals are supposed to admit or discharge 95 per cent of patients within the target time.

Health bosses said the record breaking heatwave in July was similar to pressures faced by the NHS during winter.

Tony McDonald, deputy director of operations for the trust said: “In common with the majority of hospitals across the country, in recent months East Lancashire Hospitals has experienced difficulty in achieving the nationally set A&E performance standard.

“Despite this, during July more than four out of five patients (83.8 per cent) attending our emergency department, Urgent Care Centres and Minor Injury Units were treated in four hours or less.

“I’d like to thank our A&E staff who, day in day out, show great professionalism and compassion to ensure patients who require emergency treatment are seen promptly. They are doing a fantastic job.”

“In addition, we want to remind people that by choosing the most appropriate NHS service, they play their part in keeping A&E for patients who do need emergency treatment. Details about choosing the right service at the right time can be found on our website www.elht.nhs.uk, as well as our Facebook (/EastLancashireHospitals) and Twitter (@EastLancsHosp) pages.”