Hospitals in England declare critical incidents amid heatwave equipment failures
10 reported
Extreme heat in England has caused critical incidents at multiple NHS trusts, with radiotherapy machines, MRI scanners, and IT systems failing, according to a report from The Guardian. The hot weather has also led to a surge in hospital admissions and A&E visits, particularly among older patients suffering from collapse or dehydration. Several hospitals declared critical incidents after cooling units broke down, affecting operating theatres, diagnostic scanning, and digital systems. In Portsmouth, Queen Alexandra hospital reported "elevated temperatures" across the facility after chiller unit failures. The Royal Devon and Exeter hospital declared a critical incident on Thursday evening due to the widespread impact of heat and humidity. In Norfolk, hundreds of appointments were cancelled after MRI scanners stopped working at Norwich sites. The London ambulance service recorded a record 642 category one calls in a single day, the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in its history, driven by the extreme heat.
What’s reported
Radiotherapy machines, MRI scanners, and critical IT systems have failed due to extreme heat.
Cooling units serving entire hospitals have broken down, affecting clinical services.
Several NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents as a direct result of the heat.
Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth declared a critical incident after cooling unit failures led to elevated temperatures.
The Royal Devon and Exeter hospital declared a critical incident on Thursday evening.
Norfolk and Norwich university hospitals NHS foundation trust declared a critical incident; no working MRI scanners across its Norwich sites.
The London ambulance service recorded 642 category one calls on Wednesday, the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in a single day.
Older patients in one geriatric ward endured temperatures as high as 35C.
NHS staff have struggled with sleep deprivation and some could not work due to school closures.
NHS England stated hospitals are implementing hot weather plans to keep staff and patients safe.
Key figures
Mark Orchard, deputy chief executive of Portsmouth hospitals university NHS trust
Dr Hilary Williams, clinical vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians
Spokesperson for NHS England
Spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care
Sources: The Guardian
