{"id":1272,"date":"2026-08-06T14:09:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T14:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/nhs-must-plan-for-heatwaves-like-it-does-for-winter-health-secretary-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T14:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T14:09:48","slug":"nhs-must-plan-for-heatwaves-like-it-does-for-winter-health-secretary-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/nhs-must-plan-for-heatwaves-like-it-does-for-winter-health-secretary-says\/","title":{"rendered":"NHS must plan for heatwaves like it does for winter, health secretary says"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The NHS must treat heatwaves with the same level of preparedness as winter cold snaps, according to the health secretary, as soaring temperatures continue to strain emergency services across the UK.<\/p>\n

Yvette Cooper has highlighted a “big increase” in A&E attendances linked to hot weather this summer, with some hospitals also reporting disruption caused by vital equipment failing in the heat. In an interview with LBC Radio, she urged the public to check on elderly neighbours and other vulnerable individuals, while calling for more robust planning within the health service.<\/p>\n

The comments come as the UK recorded its 34th day of temperatures reaching 30C (86F) or higher on Tuesday, equalling the previous annual record set in 1995. Forecasters predict this milestone could be broken as early as next week, with the potential for a sixth heatwave and yellow heat warnings already active in parts of the country.<\/p>\n

Summer pressures now match winter demands<\/h2>\n

Speaking about the recent heatwaves, Cooper, who also gave an interview to the Guardian, described conversations with frontline A&E staff who reported patient numbers “linked to the heat in a way that you would normally only see in the winter.”<\/p>\n

“So I’ve been clear: the NHS has to make sure we are preparing for summer pressures now in the same way we prepare for winter,” she said.<\/p>\n

Cooper outlined that this means having plans in place to respond to higher numbers of people arriving at A&E who are vulnerable because of the heat, as well as ensuring patients can be discharged from hospital as swiftly as possible. She also stressed the importance of prevention, noting that “it’s the elderly and vulnerable who are at risk when you have these heatwaves.”<\/p>\n

Every year, the NHS publishes detailed winter plans, including measures to cope with increased patient demand. Cooper argues that a similar framework is now essential for the summer months, given the changing climate and the growing frequency of extreme heat events.<\/p>\n

Ambulance workers speak out on ‘vile’ conditions<\/h2>\n

The call for better preparation has been echoed by Unison, the union representing ambulance workers. The union has released testimonies from staff describing the difficult and, in some cases, “vile” conditions they have endured during this summer’s heatwaves.<\/p>\n

Members reported being sent out in ambulances with faulty or non-existent air conditioning, often with limited access to drinking water or toilet facilities. This has occurred during shifts where crews have queued for hours outside hospitals in stifling temperatures to hand over patients.<\/p>\n

One ambulance technician from Birmingham told the union: “We have one uniform whether it’s minus 10 or 30 degrees. You’re sweating even when you’re just driving. We then go into hot care homes and houses.<\/p>\n

“Doing CPR for 40 minutes in the heat is ten-times harder. Then you simply move on to the next job. I could have cried during my last shift. I often think, I can’t do this again.”<\/p>\n

Union calls for a summer strategy<\/h3>\n

Sharan Bandesha, Unison’s national officer for ambulances, said it was time for a rethink across the health service.<\/p>\n

“Ambulance services have well-established plans for winter. It’s increasingly clear they’re needed for summer too,” she said.<\/p>\n

The union’s concerns extend beyond personal comfort. The heat is exacerbating existing pressures, with crews spending long periods waiting to transfer patients, which in turn delays responses to new emergency calls.<\/p>\n

Hospitals hit by equipment failures and staff strain<\/h2>\n

Beyond the surge in heat-related patient admissions, hospitals have reported problems with key infrastructure. Scanners and IT systems have failed in the heat, and staff at some older hospital sites have faced particularly difficult working conditions.<\/p>\n

The impact of extreme heat on health is well documented. Alongside the immediate risks of dehydration and heatstroke, a bout of extreme heat increases the likelihood of complications from chronic conditions such as advanced heart, kidney, and respiratory failure.<\/p>\n

Record-breaking summer and rising death toll<\/h2>\n

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has already issued a stark warning. In a preliminary assessment last month, the agency estimated that 2,877 heat-related deaths occurred during the May and June heatwaves alone \u2013 almost double the figure for the whole of the previous year.<\/p>\n

The UKHSA said it is “likely that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record,” surpassing the number recorded in 2022, when the agency began tracking such data.<\/p>\n

With forecasts pointing to more hot weather in the coming days, health officials are bracing for further pressure on services. The health secretary’s call for a dedicated summer plan reflects a growing recognition that heatwaves are no longer a rare occurrence but a recurring challenge that the NHS must be ready to meet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NHS must treat heatwaves with the same level of preparedness as winter cold snaps, according to the health secretary, as soaring temperatures continue to strain emergency services across the UK. Yvette Cooper has highlighted a “big increase” in A&E attendances linked to hot weather this summer, with some hospitals also reporting disruption caused by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}