Soaring summer temperatures put pressure on hospital services similar to winter problems, according to a senior NHS manager.
Zara Jones, Acting Chief Executive of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said heatwaves placed additional demands on staff, patients and buildings.
NHS England said A&Es nationwide “bore the brunt” as the May heatwave piled pressure on hospitals. Ambulance services were also reportedly under intense demand, with paramedics said to be experiencing demand “at levels never seen outside of winter”.
Along with patients suffering from heat-related conditions, staff also said they were struggling to work in buildings where temperatures could peak above 30C (86f).
In a report, Jones said “operational pressures are no longer confined to winter months”.
“Caring for patients during periods of extreme heat places additional demands on colleagues, patients and our estate,” she explained.
“It reinforces the importance of investment in modern facilities, resilient infrastructure and neighbourhood-based models of care.”
In Wakefield in West Yorkshire, Dr Richard Gorman, a consultant in emergency medicine at Pinderfields Hospital, said the heat was also piling more pressure on their services.
“We are busier now this summer than some of our busiest days during winter,” he said.
“On the hottest day of the last heatwave we had more than 1,000 patients come through our doors.
“That’s extremely busy, we would expect to see 850 on those days.”
On Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) updated its amber health alert to include Yorkshire and the Humber, with it in place until 21:00 BST on Sunday.
The alert means “significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures”.
