A&E units across the UK are experiencing a surge in patients seeking care as a direct result of the heatwave, which is leaving many people unwell with shortness of breath, heat exhaustion and sunburn.
The number of people suffering problems as a direct result of the sustained high temperatures in many parts of the country has resulted in some hospitals recording their highest A&E attendance figures.
The high pollen count and air pollution are also contributing to a major increase in demand for help at emergency departments just as the latest junior doctors’ strike in England gets under way.
Hospitals are also dealing with an increase in the number of people with hay fever and people having trouble breathing normally because they are suffering a flare-up of asthma.
Some hospitals are struggling to cope with the extra demand, senior doctors said. The combination of the two events has created a “very challenging” situation for the NHS, one said.
“This week’s heatwave, which stretches across the country, has seen some hospitals facing large increases in attendances as people experience conditions caused, or exacerbated, by the weather,” said Dr Ian Higginson, the vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors.
“Coming at a time when the NHS is already struggling, and during a period of industrial action, we know that many emergency departments are facing considerable pressure.”
Five hospitals in south London have recorded all-time high attendances at their A&Es this week as unusually high temperatures have promoted the UK Security Agency and Met Office to extend the heat health alert they issued until next Monday.
For example, on Monday more than 1,250 people sought help at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospitals in south London – more than the previous record of 1,170 and far above the usual attendance of about 800.
“We have never been busier and with the strikes it’s going to be a very challenging week,” said Dr Richard Jennings, the group chief medical officer at the St George’s Epsom and St Helier University hospitals and health group.
“This weather has undoubtedly contributed to the rise in people – some who are vulnerable and very sick – coming to our emergency departments,” he added.
In a statement the group added: “When temperatures rise, more people, especially those in high-risk groups, can suffer from illnesses like heat exhaustion and dehydration, as well as sunburn.
“The pollen count is also very high, and there has been a surge in people visiting emergency departments with shortness of breath. This might not be anything to worry about, but it is scary and sometimes those who are experiencing it will need medical help.”
The chief executive of another trust, who asked not to be named, said: “The hospital is very busy because of the heat and pollen. Monday and Tuesday were our two busiest ever days for emergency care – and it is June!
“We are going into the three-day industrial action with a full hospital.”
A source at another NHS trust said its two A&Es were “jammed [with] mostly walk-ins with lots of respiratory cases and hay fever. A very high day usually sees around 850 patients but earlier this week this was well over 1,000 across two EDs [emergency departments]”.
Several said there had been a new record number of patients turning up at A&E on Monday, with heat-related conditions, including dehydration, to blame.
