Summary
The Heatwave Plan for England, created with the aim of protecting vulnerable individuals from heat-related harm, may be of enduring interest during this extraordinary Summer.
Reference
Heatwave Plan for England. [Online]: Public Health England; Department of Health and Social Care [and] NHS England, May 29th 2018.
The information resources available have not changed significantly from the previous year.
See also:
Reference
Staying safe and cool in UK heatwave conditions. London: BBC Health News, June 26th 2018.
2016 Data
Possibly of interest, there is a retrospective review of excess mortality in the heatwave(s) of 2016, amounting to an estimated 908 excess deaths.
Reference
PHE Heatwave Mortality Monitoring: Summer 2016. London: Public Health England (PHE), June 2018. PHE Publications Gateway No. 2018160.
Passing interest:
Reference
Ives, L. (2018). Heatwave causes spike in insect bite calls to NHS. London: BBC Health News, July 15th 2018.
Further heatwave tips and topical news:
Reference
UK: Met Office says stay out of the sun. London: BBC Health News, July 23rd 2018.
MPs: Committee on Climate Change / Environmental Audit Committee
Summer heatwaves could become the new normal for UK Summers by 2040 according to a report from the Environmental Audit Committee. Some projections suggest that without due preparedness, there could be 7,000 heat-related deaths per year in the UK by 2050.
Reference
Harrabin, R. (2017). Regular heatwaves ‘will kill thousands’. London: BBC Science News / BBC Health News, July 26th 2018.
Heatwave of 2018 Forced Winter-Like Pressures on the Health Service / A&E Attendances
“July 2018 was the most pressured summer month for A&E departments in recent history, showing that there’s no doubt this summer’s heatwave has caused severe strain on the NHS”. Professor John Appleby, Nuffield Trust.
Reference
Heatwave blamed for record A&E attendances in England. London: BBC Health News, August 9th 2018.
Possibly of interest:
Reference
Demand for heatwave advice from NHS doubled this summer. London: BBC Health News, September 7th 2018.
Heatwave-Related Deaths in France (2019)
Reference
Summer heat killed nearly 1,500 in France, officials say. London: BBC Health News, September 9th 2019.
Background interest:
Reference
Gallagher, J. (2019). Heatwaves and the human body. London: BBC Health News, July 25th 2019.
Excess heatwave-related deaths in England and Wales during 2019:
Reference
Roberts, M. (2019). Summer heatwave ‘death spike’ seen in UK. London: BBC Health News, October 8th 2019.