NHS must adapt to work better in heatwaves | Letters

Dr. Mark Harber says that the demand for health care will increase due to extreme temperatures, therefore investment in infrastructure and preparation are no longer optional

Higher temperatures are becoming more and more frequent with climate change, and our patients pay the price (“deep concern” as scientists say extreme heat “now the norm” in the United Kingdom, July 14). Increasingly, doctors see more patients whose health is affected by extreme heat. During the heat periods of summer 2022, there were 3,271 excess deaths in England and in Wales, and the heat wave of the last month will cost hundreds of lives alone.

The demand for health care will increase as extreme temperatures. It’s not just the health of people in danger, but also our ability to take care of patients. About 90% of hospitals in England alone risk overheating, which makes the continuation of security services more difficult. We must be serious about the adaptation of the NHS to deal with changing conditions.

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