England’s ambulance services encountered some of their busiest operational days in recorded history during a severe heatwave in June, according to data reviewed by Carbon Brief. During this period, temperatures in parts of the country surged past 37 degrees Celsius, prompting authorities to declare only the second ever “red” extreme heat warning. Four out of ten NHS ambulance services, including the London service, managed unprecedented volumes of life-threatening emergency calls during the five-day stretch from June 23-27. Two additional services based in the south-west and east regions recorded their highest total call volumes on record during the same timeframe.
The heatwave created demand that exceeded typical winter season patterns and even surpassed peak demand experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic for many services. Extreme heat increases the risk of numerous serious health conditions, including heart disease and respiratory problems. The entire country was blanketed by amber or red heat health alerts from the government, with red alerts covering the entire Midlands and southern England. Red alerts indicate a significant risk to life even for the healthy population. Researchers determined that nearly 3,000 heat-related deaths occurred across the UK that summer.
Carbon Brief obtained data from the ten NHS ambulance trusts in England regarding their busiest days on record, examining both total 999 call volumes and “category 1” responses involving life-threatening injuries and illnesses. The five-day heatwave period from June 23-27 appeared disproportionately in the rankings of busiest days, with at least two heatwave days ranking in the top 20 for every service nationally. Southern and eastern regions, where temperatures exceeded 36 degrees Celsius and approached 38 degrees in some areas, showed the most pronounced trend. On June 26, the peak heatwave day, ambulances across England responded to 4,084 life-threatening emergencies, compared to a normal summer average of approximately 2,500 daily incidents.
Experts note that extreme heat conditions trigger increased calls related to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, with elderly individuals, young children, and pregnant people facing heightened vulnerability. While ambulance services traditionally experience peak demand during winter months due to cold weather and seasonal illness, data from June indicates that exceptionally hot days are now matching or exceeding cold-weather demand patterns. Beyond the heatwave itself, 2026 is tracking to become a record year for overall ambulance demand. Additionally, the heatwave placed significant strain on ambulance workers, with labor unions warning of crews enduring extreme heat without adequate vehicle air conditioning while managing increased call volumes.
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