England’s ambulance services faced extraordinary demand during a record-breaking heatwave in June, according to data obtained through freedom-of-information requests. Temperatures exceeded 37 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, prompting authorities to declare only the second-ever “red” extreme heat warning. The five-day period from June 23-27 saw multiple ambulance trusts reach historic peaks in both emergency call volumes and life-threatening incident responses.
Four of England’s ten NHS ambulance services, including London’s, reported unprecedented numbers of category 1 responses—incidents involving life-threatening injuries and illnesses—on at least one day during the heatwave period. Two additional services, covering the southwest and east of England, recorded their highest total call volumes on record. On June 26, the busiest day of the heatwave, ambulances across England responded to 4,084 life-threatening emergencies, compared to a typical summer average of around 2,500 daily incidents.
The data reveals that demand during the June heatwave exceeded levels previously seen during winter months in other years and even during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic for many services. Extreme heat creates significant health risks, including increased incidence of heart disease and respiratory problems. Research indicates nearly 3,000 heat-related deaths occurred across the UK during the summer period.
While ambulance demand has been growing for years due to factors such as an aging population and rising rates of complex health conditions, the heatwave data suggests extremely hot days are beginning to match or surpass traditionally busy winter periods. Workers faced additional strain, with union representatives reporting crews dealing with inadequate air conditioning and back-to-back callouts. Beyond the heatwave, 2026 is on track to set overall records for ambulance demand across England.
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