DAUK’s sustainability lead has warned that climate change will create summer pressures for the NHS as well as winter ones.
Dr Matt Lee said patients and staff suffer in high temperatures, such as those being experienced in the UK during the latest heatwave.
Climate change
Speaking to the i paper, Dr Lee warned that climate change heatwaves are dangerous and ‘increase workloads for the NHS’.
He said that a lack of cooling equipment in hospitals is also putting patients’ safety at risk during procedures.
Dr Lee said: “With more frequent heatwaves due to man-made climate change, the NHS must prepare for an annual increase in summer pressures in addition to the winter ones.”
He added: “Hospital infrastructure is wholly ill-equipped to deal with heatwaves.
NHS pressures
“Patients and staff suffer in high temperatures, exacerbated by lack of cooling mechanisms and heat-producing equipment.
“Patients’ wound dressings may become less adhesive. IV cannulas may fall out due to increased sweating. Let alone the increased risks of pressure sores, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in already unstable patients.”
Visit the website Our Health, Our Planet which has been produced by DAUK and is full of information aimed at keeping people safe in a changing climate and during extreme weather events.
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