The United Kingdom experienced multiple heatwaves during the summer, with the hottest day recording 38.1C (100.6F). According to UK Health Security Agency estimates, the first two heatwaves in May and June resulted in 2,877 deaths, nearly double the 1,504 heat-related deaths recorded during the whole of 2025.
Emergency medicine specialists report a significant increase in heat-related injuries and illnesses affecting patients across age groups. Dr Adrian Boyle, an A&E consultant at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge and former president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, notes that elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to falls caused by dizziness and light-headedness during extreme temperatures. These falls have resulted in serious injuries including broken bones. Boyle attributes this partly to medications such as diuretics and blood pressure drugs that can exacerbate heat sensitivity. Beyond falls, medical staff report treating patients for kidney failure due to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Additionally, extreme heat has contributed to drowning incidents among young people swimming in unsupervised locations.
NHS data revealed that record A&E attendance occurred in July, with 2.5 million people visiting emergency departments that month. These visits included patients whose existing health conditions, including breathing problems and mental health medication complications, were worsened by heat exposure. Hospital infrastructure has proven inadequate for managing heat stress, with many facilities lacking sufficient air conditioning or ventilation systems.
Healthcare workers face their own challenges during extreme heat. Medical staff wearing personal protective equipment for infectious disease protocols report difficulty maintaining safe working conditions in elevated temperatures. Hospital uniforms, designed with limited consideration for heat, contribute to worker discomfort and fatigue. Nurses report insufficient cooling resources, including inadequate fan distribution among patients, and some healthcare workers have purchased lighter uniforms independently after management declined to provide them.
Experts emphasize that current hospital designs prioritize infection control through limited ventilation, creating a counterintuitive problem where safety measures against disease transmission conflict with patient and staff needs during heatwave conditions.
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