A&Es in Essex saw record numbers of people last month – as NHS leaders warn that the health service is experiencing "winter in summer".

A huge spike in demand for non-Covid related urgent healthcare – combined with another surge in Covid cases – has led to unprecedented demand across England, according to the NHS Confederation.

A total of 34,265 people visited Mid and South Essex NHS Trust's A&Es in June – the highest number since monthly records began in June 2015.

Numbers were 42 per cent higher than in June last year during lockdown.

Of those arriving in A&E this June, 87 per cent were admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours.

That was down from 90 per cent in May, and below the target of 95 per cent.

Dr Simon Walsh, deputy chair of the BMA consultants committee, said: "Seeing the extraordinary rise in the numbers of people going to emergency departments serves to reinforce the need for the Westminster Government to reconsider its plans to relax all Covid restrictions from 19 July.

"Overcrowded emergency departments already cause harm, even without a pandemic, so it seems utterly illogical that the Westminster Government is pushing ahead with full easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

"When you add that to the news that there are now 5.3 million people on the waiting list, it's vital that we keep infections down to reduce the pressure on the NHS as much as possible."

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, added: "A significant Covid surge this summer will place even more strain on an urgent care system struggling to cope, and this will have a direct and immediate impact on the care the NHS can provide to patients.

"Many of our organisations are running far too hot and are much busier than they have historically been at this time of year. Our staff are also exhausted after a gruelling 18 months, yet a huge demand for healthcare has left the NHS buckling under the strain of running a winter-like service in summer.

"The NHS has been working at full pelt to reinstate services and get patients back through its doors as quickly as possible, with operations and other activity at 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

"However, there is growing concern among NHS leaders that the rapidly rising demand for urgent and emergency care will threaten to slow down their attempts to recover the huge and rising elective care backlog."

NHS England figures for May show progress was being made on waiting lists and cancer care. Patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for elective care dropped by more than 80,000 in May.