An A&E department in Woolwich has bucked the trend by escaping a summer surge in patients.

The recent heatwave was being blamed for record numbers of people going to A&E departments in July.

As the hot weather gripped the nation, the number of patients soared, with attendances reaching more than 2.1m.

Health experts warned the heatwave was adding to existing NHS pressures, with more people turning up to the emergency departments with dehydration and kidney troubles related to the hot weather.

In Woolwich, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital managed to steer clear of increased strains.

A spokesman for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust said: “We have not seen a surge in attendances at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital emergency department and urgent care centre over the last couple of months due to the heatwave, with fewer attendances than the previous year.

“However, we would like to remind local people only to attend A&E in an emergency. You can get advice on getting the right care by dialling 111.”

Nationally, A&E attendances reached 2,176,022 in July – up from 2,091,318 in June – although attendances have steadily climbed since 2010.

 NHS England data also shows there were 530,000 emergency admissions to A&E, a figure only surpassed once – in May this year – since records began in 2010.

NHS England figures show that 25,672 people attended the trust’s emergency departments in both Greenwich and Lewisham last month, 638 more than in July 2017.

Last week the government’s healthcare watchdog raised concerns over a nursing shortage at Queen Elizabeth, highlighting its use of agency staff as an issue.