EXCLUSIVE: Health Secretary Yvette Cooper admitted the sweltering conditions make things ‘much more difficult’ for those in care, as well as for staff looking after them
Yvette Cooper has vowed to address challenges facing the “frail and vulnerable” in hospitals and care homes as staff battle yet another heatwave.
The Health Secretary admitted the sweltering conditions make things “much more difficult” for those in care, as well as for staff looking after them.
The Cabinet minister has ordered the NHS to start drawing up summer plans to deal with heatwaves as they traditionally do for winter crises. She said the hot weather puts at risk the same people – the elderly, young children and those with existing conditions – who are affected by the cold in winter.
Writing for The Mirror, Ms Cooper said: “The extreme heat makes things much more difficult for all those who need care, and all those looking after them. And it is another reason why Andy Burnham is right to say we need major reform in social care, giving the care workforce the tools and support they need for every challenge they face, and lifting up the importance of care work in our national life.”
Ms Cooper continued: “Our NHS is used to gearing up for these kinds of pressures in winter. But we are going to need the same level of preparation in future summers. I have told the NHS to start drawing up summer plans now in the way they have traditionally done for winter.
“Especially as all the same people who are most at risk when it is very cold are at risk in the extreme heat: older people, the youngest children, and people with existing conditions. That means effective planning in emergency care, hospitals and care homes – especially supporting those who are frail and vulnerable.”
Ms Cooper added that £6.75billion was already being invested to improve NHS buildings, including better cooling.
Latest data shows around 2,800 lives were lost because of the extreme heat during the May and June heatwaves, with 2026 on track to see the highest ever number of heat-related deaths. Around 60% of the excess deaths were of people aged 85 and over, analysis by Imperial University found.
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, which represents senior UK citizens, called for heatwaves to receive the same response as winter.
He told The Mirror: “Extreme heat should be treated with the same vigour as extreme cold, unfortunately it is not.
“Older bodies cannot regulate heat as well as the young; and many are dying of heat-induced complications from chronic heart, respiratory and cardio-vascular conditions, or dehydration. This should be treated as a national emergency.”
He continued: “I have had complaints from members that they cannot afford to run fans because of the exorbitant energy prices, and there should be a cold homes allowance for pensioners to match the warm homes payment system.
“Most care homes do not have air conditioning and, with closed windows for security, act like furnaces. The Care Quality Commission should pick up preparations for heatwaves when it inspects care homes.”
Nadra Ahmed, co-chair of the National Care Association, which represents care providers, said it has not been the “norm” for care homes to have air conditioning unless they have a newer purpose-built service.
She said, over the course of this year’s heatwaves, care homes have been looking to purchase air conditioning units to at least keep some rooms cool but availability has been an issue.
“I think it is on the radar but of course the units are not available anymore,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of providers saying to me it’s been really difficult to go and get the kind of units and then the fitting, because we’re not the only sector, everybody’s affected. You know, offices are doing it. There’s a huge amount of interest in getting these units in.”
She said care homes have also been investing in cooling packs to put in freezers or putting cold wet flannels around people’s necks to “try to make life as comfortable as we possibly can”.
Ms Ahmed said she was more concerned about those who have in-home carers visit them.
She continued: “I think the bigger worry I have is people who are living alone, and the home care market, because of course people are only going in there for 15/20 minutes.
“You can’t have all the windows open in the evening to try and get some cool air in because of the risks attached to that.”
Dr Deb Gompertz, the British Geriatrics Society’s honorary secretary and vice president for policy, said: “Heat is the most dangerous climate-related threat to life in the UK, and older people are the most likely to die because of extreme heat. The vast majority of hospitals in England are vulnerable to overheating.
Steps need to be taken at a system level to adapt NHS and social care facilities to the effects of climate change. These measures are long-term, and so they must be started as soon as possible. The Government, local authorities and NHS Trusts must equip their estates and workforce to provide safe care during extreme heat.
Age UK urges people to visit or check by phone on neighbours or relatives who live alone and who are living with frailty or with health issues.
It also recommends older people stay inside during the hottest time of the day and when inside, trying to keep your house cool by keeping curtains and blinds closed in rooms that catch the sun and shut windows during the day to keep hot air out and cool air in.
Chris Badger, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care at the Care Quality Commission, said: “Providers are required to ensure that premises, equipment and environmental conditions support the delivery of safe care, with effective arrangements in place to monitor and respond to risks such as high temperatures.
“When we assess services, we look at how they protect people from environmental risks and ensure their individual needs are met during periods of extreme heat. If we find providers are not meeting this requirement we can take regulatory action.”
‘NHS must prepare for heatwaves as they do with winter planning’
By Health Secretary Yvette Cooper
I can still remember, as a seven-year-old girl, the scorching summer of 1976.
Elton John and Kiki Dee were at Number 1. Princess Anne was competing for Britain at the Olympics. And for fifteen consecutive days, temperatures rose above 32°C – making it the hottest summer on record.
Until now. We have already had 34 days this year with temperatures 30°C or above, and this week has seen yet another official heatwave.
Fifty years ago, we knew we were facing something exceptional. But now, with climate change affecting the entire planet, we are having to face the idea that these kinds of temperatures will become the norm. And that has major implications for our nation’s health.
During the heatwaves in May and June, we saw more than 2,800 lives lost because of the extreme heat, and this year is on track to see the highest ever number of heat-related deaths. My thoughts go out to every family who has lost loved ones.
I have seen for myself the impact that the extreme heat is having on our NHS, with A&E units under increased pressure across the whole country.
I am incredibly grateful to the hospital staff and emergency responders who have worked tirelessly to protect people through these challenging months.
Our NHS is used to gearing up for these kinds of pressures in winter. But we are going to need the same level of preparation in future summers. I have told the NHS to start drawing up summer plans now in the way they have traditionally done for winter.
Especially as all the same people who are most at risk when it is very cold are at risk in the extreme heat: older people, the youngest children, and people with existing conditions.
That means effective planning in emergency care, hospitals and care homes – especially supporting those who are frail and vulnerable.
The extreme heat makes things much more difficult for all those who need care, and all those looking after them. And it is another reason why Andy Burnham is right to say we need major reform in social care, giving the care workforce the tools and support they need for every challenge they face, and lifting up the importance of care work in our national life.
We will also need to make sure buildings can adapt to heat as well as cold – already we are investing £6.75 billion to tackle the most serious problems across the NHS estate, including better cooling.
As this hot summer continues, better prevention will be crucial too. There is good advice on the NHS website especially during heat alerts. But this is also a good time for all of us to do our bit by checking in on elderly neighbours, families with young children, or those who need a little extra help.
Just like we would if the temperatures were freezing instead.
In 1976, a summer like this felt extraordinary. Half a century later, it doesn’t. We know Britain will face heatwaves like this with increasing frequency and increasing intensity. So we have to take the health consequences much more seriously, so that everyone is ready when they come.