Statement on the impact of extreme heat on healthcare services in the UK (14 August)

The UK is currently gripped by its fifth heatwave of the year. At time of writing, all of England is subject to an amber heat health alert, meaning ‘significant impact is likely across health and social care’. Drought is declared across the country, and devastating fires threaten both lives and infrastructure. We are all feeling the strain, both in and out of the hospital. 

The NHS clearly now faces the new challenge of ‘summer pressures’. Services are already under strain, with A&E attendances increasing from June to July. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)’s interim report on heat mortality estimates 2,877 excess deaths occurred due to the extreme heat events in May and June. The workload is increasing in no small part due to heat-related illness, with little time for services to recover from the strains of winter months.

As it gets busier, staff are providing care in outdated, poorly ventilated facilities. The RCN describes facilities as ‘not fit for humans’. Anecdotes of extreme circumstances are becoming all too familiar. Two points clearly need to be addressed in order to sustain our healthcare through the extreme heat:

● We need to protect ourselves.

● We need to protect our patients.

Health secretary Yvette Cooper has recognised the need to prepare for the effects of extreme heat on the NHS. This needs to translate into action: improving our estates, supporting our staff, and allowing us to provide the best care for our patients in challenging circumstances.

The government’s Climate Change Committee has recommended investment in cooling measures in critical settings (including hospitals and care homes) over the next two years.This would aim to reduce attendances due to extreme heat, and provide staff with appropriate working conditions to treat those in need.

While we hope to see these changes delivered, we need to adapt our practice now. EcoSAM has produced the Hot Weather Health Plan along with a summary infographic, providing healthcare professionals information and guidance on considerations in heat-related presentations, and prevention thereof.

Extreme heat due to a changing climate is a reality. Action is needed now to protect both our patients and our healthcare professionals, before services reach breaking point.

Dr Jamie Phillips – ecoSAM Sustainability SIG Lead