Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) welcomes plans by Hannah Spencer MP to introduce a Parliamentary Bill to establish a legal maximum workplace temperature.
DAUK sustainability lead Dr Matt Lee said it would be an important step towards protecting patients and NHS healthcare staff from the risks posed by extreme heat.
It follows a DAUK survey during June’s record-breaking heatwave which found reports of dangerously high temperatures, staff being ill at work, and disruption to patient care.
Maximum working temperatures
DAUK shared the findings with health Secretary with a call for urgent action to introduce a legal maximum working temperature across healthcare settings.
The survey, completed by 1,111 healthcare professionals, found that 89% of respondents support the introduction of a legal maximum workplace temperature. Respondents described dangerously hot clinical environments, with reported indoor temperatures reaching as high as 45°C, heating systems remaining on during periods of extreme heat, patients suffering heat-related illness, and staff becoming unwell while delivering care.
Now DAUK has given its support to moves by Ms Spencer to introduce legislation to establish a legal maximum workplace temperature and has shared the findings of our survey with the Green Party MP for Gorton and Denton.
Patient and staff safety
Dr Lee said: “We welcome further discussion on this vital topic.
“We would certainly be happy to support the implementation of the bill from a health and social care perspective to keep patients and staff safe.”
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