Nurses are collapsing in hospitals as they treat patients in temperatures reaching 36C (97F) in aging buildings without adequate air conditioning, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned. The healthcare workers report being "dripping with sweat from head to toe" during a summer marked by multiple heatwaves, in conditions described as "unbearably hot" and "not fit for humans."
These sweltering conditions have led to sickness, dizziness, and even seizures among staff, with some requiring admission to the hospitals where they work. The RCN has highlighted testimonies from members reporting broken air conditioning, fans, or ventilation systems, and in some cases, the inability to open windows for relief.
Impact on Staff and Patients
One nurse recounted a near-fatal experience of collapsing from dehydration after a long shift on an unventilated ward, necessitating their own hospitalization. Pregnant nurses and those with pre-existing conditions have reported adverse health impacts, including seizures, due to the excessive heat. Temperatures exceeding 30C have been reported in multiple areas, with one nurse working in a 36C environment.
Concerns have also been raised about patient welfare, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those recovering from surgery. One nurse noted that the heat affected surgical patients' recovery, while another expressed worry for elderly patients in their clinic.
Calls for Infrastructure Improvement
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN chief executive, stated that the current hospital infrastructure is "utterly unprepared for extreme temperatures" following decades of underinvestment. She urged employers to fulfill their legal obligations to mitigate heat-related risks by installing air conditioning, improving ventilation, providing appropriate uniforms, and ensuring risk assessments are a core part of business planning, especially for vulnerable workers.
Matthew Hopkins, director of the NHS Alliance ambulance and acute network, indicated that NHS organizations are seeking increased government funding for building maintenance, with some facing over £100 million in backlog maintenance costs. This creates difficult trade-offs for hospital boards balancing essential repairs with the need for cooling infrastructure.
Government and Expert Responses
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has directed the NHS to prepare for summer heatwaves with the same rigor as winter planning. This includes enhancing the resilience of hospital buildings to extreme heat and addressing increased patient needs.
The Climate Change Committee has recommended that cooling measures, including air conditioning, be installed in hospitals and care homes by 2035. There are currently no laws mandating minimum or maximum indoor working temperatures, a gap highlighted by the increasing frequency of extreme heat events fueled by climate change.
Ruth Wilkinson, head of policy at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, emphasized that indoor workers face similar challenges to outdoor workers in extreme heat due to poor ventilation and outdated building designs. She noted that heat stress can impair safe and effective work and lead to serious health problems, advising employers to implement measures like adjusted work hours, cooling stations, and promoting hydration.
The United Kingdom is currently experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer, with forecasts predicting temperatures could reach 38C in parts of England. The Met Office has issued amber 'extreme heat' warnings for several regions. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has acknowledged a "significant number of excess deaths from heat this summer already" and urged the public to check on vulnerable individuals.