NHS summer heatwaves pushed services in England to their busiest levels on record, with officials warning that extreme heat is creating unprecedented pressure on patient care.
A&E departments, ambulance crews and the NHS 111 advice line all faced record demand in June, July and August as the UK endured five heatwaves and record temperatures.
New performance figures sparked fresh concern that the escalating climate emergency is creating a twin crisis for the health service, with summer now joining winter as a peak period for demand.
“Extreme heat is now an NHS pressure point, not just a weather story,” said Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund. “The NHS is now facing a twin crisis, with summer joining winter as a major pressure on services.”
Almost 7.3 million people attended A&E in England over the summer, the highest total recorded for those months. NHS England reported 7,268,445 attendances, about 240,000 more than the same period in 2025, and nearly a million more than in 2022.
Ambulance callouts also reached a summer record at 2.46 million, up from 2.32 million a year earlier. NHS 111 answered just over 3 million calls, more than 100,000 higher year on year.
“Despite a scorching summer which has tested the NHS like never before and seen demand rocket to record levels, staff have risen magnificently to the challenge to deliver for patients,” said Prof Frankie Swords, NHS England’s national medical director.
Health secretary Yvette Cooper said extreme demand is no longer confined to winter. She announced £1.5 billion in funding to boost capacity by adding operating theatres, children’s wards and improved maternity units, along with measures to heat-proof the NHS.
Of that total, £32 million is earmarked for heat-proofing, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
NHS summer heatwaves spur heat taskforce
The health department has established a heat taskforce to develop strategies that help the NHS withstand extreme temperatures, after many hospitals struggled to maintain normal services during the heatwaves.
“August was the world’s joint hottest month on record and the health impact is clear to see in hospitals across the country,” said Andrew McCracken, external affairs director at Asthma + Lung UK.
He noted that breathing issues are already the leading cause of emergency admissions in England, and the summer surge is likely driven in part by respiratory problems.
He added that rising temperatures make it harder to breathe, and that wildfire smoke, pollution trapped by high pressure and a longer pollen season intensify risks for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The latest data also showed the waiting list for hospital treatment in England climbed in July to 7.3 million, the highest since last October.
The increase clouds the government’s pledge to ensure 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks by 2029.
For Hawaiʻi readers, the UK experience echoes concerns across island communities where hotter summers and wildfire smoke can strain hospitals and worsen respiratory conditions, underscoring the need for resilient health systems as temperatures rise.
This mirrors global findings such as a recent analysis that heat-related deaths vastly exceed official counts, highlighting how climate impacts on health are often underestimated.
Asthma + Lung UK offers guidance and support for people affected by respiratory conditions through its website at Asthma + Lung UK, while official NHS information and services are available via NHS online.
