UK nurses report ‘inhumane’ heat in hospitals as heatwave grips country
Nurses are collapsing at work as they endure extreme heat in buildings that are proving unfit for the record temperatures gripping Britain. Conditions are “inhumane”, the Royal College of Nursing said on Thursday. Members have reported temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in UK hospital wards and care homes, often without access to air conditioning, fans or even to…
Nurses in British hospitals and care homes are collapsing due to extreme heat, with conditions deemed "inhumane" by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) have been reported in wards and care homes, often without air conditioning or windows that can be opened. The RCN's general secretary, Nicola Ranger, stated that hospitals are "utterly unprepared" for such extreme temperatures.
This summer is on track to be the hottest on record, with temperatures potentially reaching 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the UK. Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened an emergency meeting to address the strain on emergency workers and farmers. One nurse collapsed from dehydration in a ventilation-less ward, requiring emergency treatment at the same hospital.
Another nurse complained that hospital regulations prohibited fans and portable air-conditioning due to electrical supply issues. Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the NHS staff's efforts but emphasized the need for better preparation for summer heat. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan reported that firefighters and ambulance services faced unusually high demand due to the heat, citing a record 27,580 emergency calls in London last month.
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