NHS warns of heatwave pressure on ambulance and A&E services
The NHS has warned of sustained pressure as a heatwave pushes ambulance call volumes up by a third, with A&E experiencing its busiest June on record.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The NHS has warned of sustained pressure on its services as the UK endures its third heatwave of the year, with ambulance call volumes rising by a third and A&E departments experiencing their busiest June on record.
Amber heat health alerts are now in place across the whole of England, including the northwest and Yorkshire and Humberside, after those regions were added in the last hour. The warnings will last until Sunday, with temperatures in some areas likely to hit 36 degrees Celsius by tomorrow. The latest figures from June show the health service is under as much pressure as it typically faces in winter.
At an NHS call centre in Crawley, staff are handling up to 4,000 calls a day during peak periods, a third more than usual for this time of year. Clinicians are working to redirect less urgent cases to community services or district nurses to free up ambulances for the most seriously ill. Paramedics are urging the public to stay out of the midday sun, keep hydrated, and check on vulnerable friends and family.
In the South West, the South Western Ambulance Service reported its busiest ever day on the hottest June day last month, responding to 4,350 incidents. The service saw a rise in falls, breathing difficulties, sunburn, and sunstroke. It also noted that some elderly patients were found wearing cardigans with their heating on despite the high temperatures. The service is now preparing for a longer, though slightly less intense, spell of hot weather and is asking people to use 111 for non-emergencies.
Hospitals in the region are also feeling the strain. The Bristol and Western NHS Trust expects a rise in attendances, and the Royal United Hospital in Bath says its emergency services are very busy.
Beyond the NHS, the heatwave is causing wider disruption. The National Electricity Control Centre has issued a rare supply warning for tonight, calling on the sector to boost energy production ahead of peak usage. The London Fire Brigade recorded its busiest 24-hour period since the start of the year, warning of an increased risk of wildfires. In the South West, Bristol Water has closed the perimeter path at Cheddar Reservoir to prevent people from swimming, and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has warned against campfires and barbecues.
Last month was also the hottest June ever recorded in waters around western Europe, a so-called marine heatwave that has pushed sea temperatures unusually high.
The heat is being driven by high pressure over Europe dragging warm air from Africa, with parts of Spain and Portugal already seeing temperatures in the low to mid forties. Forecasters say the UK may not see any significant break from the heat until at least next Thursday.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| A temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in Charlewood, Surrey. | · | |
| A&E departments experienced their busiest June on record, attributed to the heatwave and other events. | · | |
| Amber heat-health alerts were in place across multiple regions of England until Sunday. | · | |
| Ambulance services reported a significant increase in call volumes, with some areas seeing a third more calls than normal. | · | |
| Last month was the hottest June ever recorded in waters around western Europe. | · | |
| London Fire Brigade recorded its busiest 24-hour period since the start of the year due to wildfire risk. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This report focused on the operational pressure at an NHS call centre in Crawley, giving a ground-level view of how staff are managing the surge in 999 calls. It included direct advice from a paramedic and also highlighted the marine heatwave, a less commonly reported aspect.
- “they have had 4000 calls a day during their busiest periods. That is up a third on what they would normally expect at this time of year.”
- “staying out of the midday sun, ensuring taking shade when they can, keeping their fluids up, plenty of water, keeping hydrated and making sure they're checking on their vulnerable family and friends”
Sky News gave a broader overview, linking the heatwave to a rare electricity supply warning, wildfire risks, and a detailed meteorological explanation. It also included an interview with the NHS National Medical Director, who tied the pressure to both the heat and major events like Wimbledon and the football.
- “a rare electricity supply warning is issued for tonight.”
- “take the weather seriously, avoid the hottest hours, slap on a hat, wear long loose clothes, obvious things really.”
This regional bulletin concentrated on the impact in the South West, particularly on elderly people and the local ambulance service. It included a report from a community group and specific warnings from Bristol Water and the fire service, giving a localised, practical angle.
- “they also saw elderly patients in cardigans and with their heating on despite hot temperatures”
- “the service responded to 4350 incidents that was its busiest ever day”
Broadcast Timeline
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