NHS leaders working hard as extreme heat strains frontline services

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures and corridor care data, David Williams, deputy director of policy at The NHS Alliance, said:

“Recent successive periods of extreme heat have provided a stark warning of the challenges the NHS could face across the summer months and in years to come. As temperatures rise, frontline services come under additional strain, increasing risks for patients, staff and the wider health system.

“Nevertheless, NHS leaders have been working hard to respond to the growing pressures created by these heatwaves, with this June now the second busiest month on record for A&E attendances in England.

“Targeted investment in measures such as improved ventilation and air conditioning, alongside additional capacity, would help the NHS become more resilient to intense weather events.

“However, the recent publication of the government’s 10-Year Capital Strategy does not address the key question as to whether much-needed upgrades to the ageing NHS estate will be delayed or scaled back as government departments are required to reduce their capital budgets by 1 per cent.

“The government must now urgently set out what these cuts means for the NHS in practical terms and ensure health services can still access the investment they need to improve patient care, boost productivity and strengthen resilience.”