A&E and ambulance waiting times in the East of England fell last month despite a busy March, as the health service experienced a ‘prolonged winter’.

Latest statistics published today show there were 246,631 attendances to A&E departments across the region in March 2026 – nearly 2,000 more than March last year. Despite this significant demand, more than three quarters of people arriving in the region’s A&Es were seen within four hours (76.7%) – a marked improvement from 73.8% during March 2025.

The busy month was driven in part following reports of the meningitis outbreak in Kent during the middle of March, which saw people concerned about potential symptoms contact health services across the country.

Along with improvements seen across the region’s A&E departments, ambulance response times in the East of England for the most serious incidents, such as suspected heart attacks and strokes (Category 2 calls), were the fastest in almost five years, averaging 28mins and 15s in March – the best performance since May 2021.

The NHS in the East of England continues its progress to reduce the size of waiting lists, with the total in the region dropping to 902,000 in February 2026 – a decrease of 6,661 compared to January 2026 and of more than 35,000 compared to February 2025.

Latest NHS data also shows the NHS in the East of England is diagnosing or giving more cancer patients the all clear within four weeks more quickly than previous years.

Close to four in five patients (78.3%) in the region with suspected cancer received a diagnosis or had cancer ruled out within 28 days in February 2026 – up from 77.7% the same time last year.

The NHS in the East of England also carried out 264,406 vital tests and checks during February 2026.

This follows an announcement earlier this week of 36 new and expanded Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in England, backed by a £237 million government investment, to boost NHS diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities – including plans for a new CDC in Luton, along with expansions or enhancements to another six CDCs in the East of England.

Regional Medical Director for NHS England – East of England Professor Edward Morris said:

“It’s thanks to the incredible work of NHS staff across the East of England that we’re seeing such important improvements to services for our patients – including shorter waits in A&E, faster ambulance response times and a drop in the overall waiting list.

“The fact this progress has been made despite prolonged winter demand on the region’s health service – and the disruption caused by industrial action – makes it all the more impressive.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said:

“We inherited an NHS going through the worst crisis in its history after years of neglect. Today’s figures show just how far we’ve come.

“Through the government’s investment and modernisation – and thanks to the extraordinary effort of NHS staff across the country – waiting lists are down by over 400,000. We’re diagnosing or giving the all clear to a record number of cancer patients on time – something I am personally invested in as a kidney cancer survivor. Ambulance and A&E waits are both at their best for almost half a decade.

“Lots done and so much more to do. Despite record pressures and strikes, we have come within a cat’s whisker of the ambitious targets we set ourselves. But it’s not enough. There are still too many patients waiting far too long. The NHS is on the road to recovery, and my foot is pressing down hard on the accelerator.”