UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper Calls for NHS Heatwave Preparedness

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper urged the National Health Service to prepare for summer heat emergencies with the same rigor applied to winter pressures. She highlighted a sharp rise in A&E attendances linked to recent heatwaves, equipment failures such as MRI scanners and IT systems, and difficult working conditions at older hospitals.

The UK Health Security Agency estimated 2,877 heat‑related deaths during the May‑June heatwaves, nearly double the total for the previous year, and warned that 2026 could see the highest number of heat‑associated deaths on record. Cooper said the NHS must strengthen prevention, accelerate patient discharge where safe, and work with Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty on public‑awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with chronic conditions.