Healthcare in a heatwave: how NUH is planning for the future in a warmer climate  | Latest news

The Met Office has officially announced today, August 13, as the hottest day of the year, just a week after confirming that 2026 was the hottest summer on record. In a year of extreme heat, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has been talking to the BBC and New York Times about how it can adapt its approach to healthcare in a heatwave. 

After a summer of increased admissions, a critical incident and multiple business continuity incidents, the Trust’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Duane Mclean, has offered an insight into the impact of the heat on Nottingham's hospitals.  

He said: “This summer we have seen an increase in heat-related attendances to our emergency department and subsequent admissions to hospital, which in June contributed to us calling a critical incident. There can be multiple reasons contributing to pressures, but we know that the prolonged period of extreme heat experienced by our staff and patients has been part of the problem. We also know the symptoms being presented are commonly triggered by extreme heat, such as hyperthermy and dehydration, in particular with our older patients and those with existing health conditions. 

“We have seen the impact in various ways across our hospitals, which were not designed or built for this kind of heat. For example, there were a large number of elderly patients cancelling their outpatient appointments, which we believe is the result of patients not wanting to leave their homes.  

"We have also had challenges relating to the safe storage of medicines on our wards, many of which should be kept at cooler temperatures than we are seeing now, and the impact of the heat emitted from equipment in our hospitals.” 

Cheryl Broodryk Geriatrics Admissions Unit (GAU) ward manager has seen first-hand the impact the heat is having on older patients. She said: “Hydration is a big factor that we have to try and teach our patients. They are happy to have cups of tea but the importance of water, particularly in this heat, is crucial.  

"The heat and lack of hydration leads to delirium. One lady was admitted as she had become so delirious, her body was shutting down and she was so cold she went out in 35-degree heat wearing 3 coats and collapsed.” 

It is not just older generations who are impacted, children can be equally vulnerable the heat.  

Gillian Rowen’s daughter, 13-year-old April, has been in Nottingham Children’s Hospital for much of this summer with total intestinal Hirschsprung's disease, which impacts how much she can eat and drink in a day.  

Gillian said: “We have been in and out of the hospital for the last six years and it has always been warm, but there has been no time when it has got cooler recently. It’s terrible. With April’s condition she can drink but her body doesn’t absorb it. So, when it’s really hot it is ten times worse.” 

Staff across the Trust have been adapting in the heat, offering more outpatient appointments over the phone, increasing hydration breaks, changes in uniform and ensuring patients are as comfortable as possible, with increased use of fans, air con units fluids and ice lollies. 

The Trust also increased treatment capacity in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), enabling frail elderly patients with heat-related symptoms to be rehydrated and discharged home on the same day. 

Dr Karen Aucott, a consultant paediatrician at NUH, said: “When you’re working in the heat for 12 hours a day, it can take its toll and can be exhausting. Staff are doing brilliantly, but it is hard. We’re sourcing fans, we have increased the number of blinds we have in our offices, are increasing and adding flexibility around breaks and making sure our teams are hydrated.  

“We’re managing increased capacity in our hospitals and also increased care needs. We are monitoring patients very closely, thinking about those with underlying issues and additional vulnerabilities in this heat. Our homes and hospitals aren’t set up for this kind of heat in the UK, and we want people at home to just recognise the signs before they become too unwell and need to attend A&E.” 

While this summer is proving to be one of the hottest on record, the Trust has been working hard to make plans for the future that will have a positive impact on staff and patients in the heat. This summer, the Trust’s resilience team has been carrying out a thorough review to better understand where issues are in the Trust. 

As part of the review, the team has been using data from the last five years to identify locations of extreme heat and using thermal imaging to identify the source. 

Emily Brookes, the Net Zero Carbon Lead at NUH, has been leading the thermal imaging work. She explained: “We are assessing where the complaints for heat are coming from across our sites and then using a thermal imaging camera to see those hotspots and decide what can be done. Some of the actions we are recommending includes better insulation; better ventilation; and the possibility of air-conditioning.” 

The Trust has also just completed a programme of installing new windows across QMC, is increasing the use of low-heat lightbulbs and installing a renewable geothermal heating and cooling system. 

This is all part of the Trust Climate Change Adaptation Plan aiming to reduce the Trust’s carbon footprint but also improve NUH’s resilience to climate change.  

One NUH site that doesn’t face these challenges is the brand new, soon to open, National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), near Loughborough. Miriam Duffy is the NRC Programme Director and gave the New York Times a tour of the facility, detailing the clever architectural planning and technology that makes it this hospital stand out. 

Miriam explained: “We are very lucky to have a newly built NHS facility which is a carbon neutral hospital fit for the future.    

“It was all part of the strategic direction we needed to take in the planning which includes solar panels, cooling systems, air source heat pumps and even ventilation systems in each room that are activated depending on occupancy all to limit the energy usage. It’s incredible.”  

While the NRC is a great example of a hospital designed with the current climate in mind, NUH is taking positive action to improve its current estate to better improve experiences of extreme heat for both staff and patients.  

Tips for coping in hot weather 

Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. 

Cool yourself down. Have cold food and regular cold drinks. Drink extra fluids but avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. 

Keep your living space cool. Close windows, curtains and blinds during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. 

Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep, and make sure to check on anyone who is at higher risk from the heat. 

You can find further advice on the NHS website.