A&E patients with non-urgent ailments may be told to come back later under NHS plans | TheBriefWire
A&E patients with non-urgent ailments may be told to come back later under NHS plans
Published 10 June 2026 Ā· health
NHS bosses urge all hospitals in England to use ādigital triageā process to combat overcrowding in emergency services Patients who turn up at A&E with
NHS bosses urge all hospitals in England to use ādigital triageā process to combat overcrowding in emergency services Patients who turn up at A&E with non-urgent ailments could be told to come back another time under NHS plans to stop hospitals becoming overcrowded and avoid the serviceās usual winter crisis.
Eighteen hospitals in England are already using ādigital triage assessmentā to help A&E staff decide which patients need to be seen right away or be dealt with in another way. If patients do need urgent care they are treated at once in the usual way.
But if they have more minor ailments and can wait, they are told to come back later that day or the next day, or are referred to a community-based service, such as a GP or pharmacy.
Published: June 11, 2026 ā¢ 12:02 AM IST Ā· Updated: June 11, 2026 ā¢ 12:39 AM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
NHS bosses urge all hospitals in England to use ādigital triageā process to combat overcrowding in emergency services Patients who turn up at A&E with non-urgent ailments could be told to come back another time under NHS plans to stop hospitals becoming overcrowded and avoid the serviceās usual winter crisis.
Eighteen hospitals in England are already using ādigital triage assessmentā to help A&E staff decide which patients need to be seen right away or be dealt with in another way.
If patients do need urgent care they are treated at once in the usual way.
But if they have more minor ailments and can wait, they are told to come back later that day or the next day, or are referred to a community-based service, such as a GP or pharmacy.
The BriefWire