England Faces Record Summer of Heat Deaths, Officials Warn
England could see its highest number of heat-related deaths on record this summer, health officials have warned, after a run of heatwaves that has stretched hospitals and emergency services. Officials estimated that the summer’s heat had already been linked to close to 3,000 deaths, mostly among the elderly and vulnerable. The warning came as the latest hot spell finally began to ease.
Heat is a quieter killer than storms or floods, its toll often hidden in the deaths of frail and older people whose conditions are worsened by soaring temperatures. Repeated heatwaves this summer, coupled with drought across much of the country, have exposed how poorly Britain’s homes, hospitals and infrastructure cope with sustained heat. Officials urged people to check on elderly neighbours and to prepare for hotter summers as the climate warms. Watch whether the government moves to adapt housing and health services to the heat.