Rising summer temperatures in the United Kingdom are exposing significant challenges within the country’s hospital system, as many facilities struggle to cope with heat levels for which they were never designed. Queen’s Medical Center in Nottingham, a sprawling hospital originally built in the 1960s, experienced temperatures inside its wards surpassing 90 degrees Fahrenheit during recent heat waves, causing discomfort for patients and staff alike.
Last month, Nottingham recorded its highest temperature ever—96 degrees Fahrenheit—during the fifth heat wave of the summer. Inside Queen’s Medical Center, older patients like 78-year-old Celia Burgess, who was confined to a geriatric unit, faced stifling conditions despite efforts to provide relief with portable fans. Staff members reported exhausting work environments, with some describing sweat-soaked uniforms and rooms with limited ventilation.
The challenges stem from the fact that most hospitals in England were constructed to retain warmth in cool, damp winters rather than to mitigate extreme summer heat. According to a 2022 study by the U.K. Health Alliance on Climate Change, approximately 90 percent of National Health Service (NHS) hospitals are at risk of overheating as climate change drives more frequent and severe heat waves. These rising temperatures compound existing pressures on the NHS, which is already burdened by underinvestment and increasing patient demand.
Heat-related health issues have surged this year, with preliminary figures from the U.K. Health Security Agency indicating 2,877 deaths linked to heat in May and June—nearly twice the number recorded the previous year. At least five hospital trusts across England, including Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, declared critical incidents during the summer, signifying severe operational strain. Queen’s Medical Center’s emergency department was overwhelmed at times, resulting in the curtailment of nonemergency services and periodic closure of overheated wards.
Hospital executives acknowledge the difficulty of retrofitting aging infrastructure amid funding constraints. Anthony May, chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, noted the mismatch between the hospital’s design and the current climate reality, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue “perhaps quicker than we can combat.” Efforts to mitigate heat effects at Queen’s Medical Center have included installing window tinting, deploying fans and portable air conditioning units, and implementing cooling towels for patients. Thermal imaging has been used to map hotspots within the building to guide future interventions.
Meanwhile, new hospital projects funded under the government’s New Hospital Programme offer examples of climate-conscious design. The recently opened National Rehabilitation Centre in Loughborough, about 12 miles from Nottingham, incorporates modern temperature control systems, including heat pumps and solar panels, representing a stark contrast to older facilities.
Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses remain at heightened risk during heat waves. Patients like Robyn Roy, a 2-year-old with Down syndrome who underwent surgery at Queen’s Medical Center, face added health complications related to heat exposure, as do others with medical conditions that impair temperature regulation and hydration.
Health care workers have described conditions within hospitals during heat waves as “unbearable” and “inhumane.” The Royal College of Nursing has called attention to the intense strain placed on staff and patients alike, while the U.K. Climate Change Committee has urged the government to prioritize investment in cooling measures for health facilities. The committee warns that unless comprehensive steps are taken, heat-related deaths could double or triple in the coming decades, placing further burden on an already stretched health care system.