DAUK’s sustainability lead warned ‘the climate crisis is a health crisis’ after more than 2,700 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes in the May and June heatwaves.
Dr Matt Lee said that climate change is raising the health risks associated with extreme heat.
And he renewed Doctors’ Association UK’s call for urgent investment in hospitals, GP surgeries, and healthcare settings to create safe spaces for staff and patients.
Dr Lee said: “As wildfires rage across the UK, the excess death figures from these first heatwaves have now been released. This number will continue to rise with the most recent heatwave.
Climate crisis is a health crisis
“It is clear more than ever that the climate crisis is a health crisis and governments need to act now and act with urgency.
“Hospitals and GP surgeries are not equipped to handle heat. They should be safe spaces for patients and staff, but currently pose imminent patient and staff safety risks.
“We urge politicians of all parties to come together on making hospitals and GP surgeries safe, and we welcome discussions with any politicians who are prepared to take action for patients and healthcare workers.”
“This is the latest baseline in extreme weather events. We need immediate climate adaptations in healthcare and an accelerated program of decarbonisation and nature restoration to secure a liveable future.”
Heatwave survey
Our survey of healthcare workers during June’s record-breaking heatwave highlighted the extreme temperatures NHS staff were working in. The survey found reports of dangerously high temperatures, staff being ill at work, and disruption to patient care.
DAUK wrote to health secretary James Murray with the findings and called for urgent action, including a maximum safe working temperature for hospitals and GP surgeries.
The survey continues to make headlines.
Dr Lee was invited onto Channel 5’s topical debate programme Storm & Alexis to discuss the findings and the letter.
BBC Online has also reported on the survey and our calls in its report on the current heatwave creating new pressures for NHS hospitals. The letter to the health secretary was also reported by Management in Practice.
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