A RECORD 2.5million people went to A&E last month — as the corridor care crisis in English hospitals deepened.
It was the highest monthly total ever, with bosses warning the was coming under .
More than 110,000 patients were parked in hallways and store rooms in October, setting another unwanted record.
Nearly 58,000 waited more than 12 hours for a bed on a ward, a delay known to double their risk of death.
The previous record of 2.4million A&E patients in May 2024 has been topped in six months this year.
Doctors fear there will be another crisis with ambulance delays and long waits in casualty.
Official figures also show a rise in surgery backlogs and late diagnoses.
The Nuffield Trust think tank’s Sarah Scobie said: “Progress on waiting lists has ground to a halt and the NHS is creaking at the seams.”
Dr Vicky Price, of the Society for Acute Medicine, added: “Patients deserve better.”
Professor Nicola Ranger, of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “These figures are a mark of shame.
“Winter has barely begun and nursing staff will be filled with dread thinking of just how bad things will get.”
Secretary said a new programme to help the frail elderly stay at home and expansion of Pharmacy First should help ease pressure.
She added: “This autumn has been the busiest ever for our NHS.
“As we head into winter, those pressures will increase.
“We are bringing in a new GP programme to help frail elderly people stay well at home and expanding the Pharmacy First scheme, so people can get care where they need it most.”
