Germany's health officials warn heat wave threatens hospitals

North Rhine‑Westphalia Health Minister Karl‑Josef Laumann urged that heat warnings be treated with the same urgency as storms, noting that temperatures near 40 °C late June caused an estimated 1,230 heat‑related deaths in the state. He highlighted the strained situation in emergency departments and intensive‑care units, saying that although there was no widespread collapse, coordination of measures must improve. No additional state funds for heat‑proofing hospitals are available yet, but longer‑term protection plans are being considered.

In neighbouring Rhineland‑Palatinate, University Hospital Mainz director Ralf Kiesslich described unprecedented patient influxes, cooling‑system failures and the use of fire‑fighter fans in hospital wards. He and the regional hospital association warned that many facilities, built in the 1960‑1980s, lack adequate climate control and require major retro‑fits. They called for a dedicated programme to make hospitals climate‑resilient, arguing that such investments are essential for patient safety and continuity of care.