More people visited A&E last month at the University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay Trust – but attendances were still far lower than in June last year.

NHS England figures show 7,212 patients visited A&E at the UHMBT in June.

That was a rise of 15 per cent on the 6,253 visits recorded during May, but still 31per cent lower than the 10,473 patients seen in June the previous year.

Across England, A&E departments received 1.4 million visits during June.

That was an increase of 12 per cent compared to May, but still a third fewer than the 2.1 million seen during June 2019.

Medical experts have previously raised concerns about people staying away from hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic, with delays to seeking treatment potentially storing up problems for the future.

Dr Simon Walsh, BMA emergency medicine lead, said: “It is crucial that people who are in genuine need of emergency treatment know they can attend hospital to get the care they need, and that it is safe to do so.

“However, with A&E attendances gradually on the rise again the Government must ensure that capacity and resources are available, including beds and workforce, so that hospitals can continue to deliver safe and timely care for both Covid and non-Covid patients.”

Hospitals had feared the reopening of pubs on July 4 may have led to emergency departments being overwhelmed.

But Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said these fears 'thankfully do not seem to have come to pass'.

"We appreciate the common sense of the public and thank the majority for following the rules so that they could enjoy their evening out in a responsible, sensible way," she said.

Figures on the number of attendances at A&E over the so-called Super Saturday will not be known for a number of weeks, she added.The BMA said emergency departments have been restructured for social distancing, meaning they are still operating with reduced capacity.