Nurse reports temperatures of 35C on Welsh hospital ward as union calls for urgent action

Nursing staff are collapsing and patients are “suffering in facilities not fit for humans” during periods of extreme heat, a leading nursing union has warned.

The comments from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) follow this summer’s fifth heatwave, which saw highs of over 35c recorded in Wales and 38.1c recorded in Kew Gardens, making August 13 the hottest day of the year so far.

The union said it has received multiple calls this summer from staff, who are struggling to deliver care without access to air conditioning, fans or even windows that open. In some instances, hospital wards, care homes and offices are regularly exceeding indoor temperatures of 30c.

In Wales, a nurse working in an endoscopy ward in the NHS said their room had reached 35c while its air conditioning unit was broken.

The RCN said extreme heat is making some services “impossible and inhumane” places to work and receive care in, calling for an urgent programme to heat-proof facilities.

It is also demanding the government reduce emissions and play a leading role on the global stage in the fight against global warming. As demand for services grows, there must be a proper plan to reduce emissions produced by health and care services as well, the College says.

Nursing staff report “dripping with sweat from head to toe”, with one in England collapsing from dehydration after working a long shift on a ward with no ventilation, only to be admitted to the same organisation where they worked.

Multiple pregnant nursing staff called the RCN about high temperatures impacting their health, with one working in temperatures as high as 32 degrees Celsius. Two separate members with pre-existing conditions reported having seizures brought on by the heat.

Nursing staff have raised serious concerns about the impact on patient safety, with some forced to wait and recover from procedures, including surgery, in settings where temperatures are above 30 degrees Celsius.

The RCN was told that one clinical area was “not fit for humans” and that a blood machine and medicine trolley had to be removed to stop them from overheating.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said the testimonies from nursing staff should be a “wake-up call” to governments.

Prof Ranger said: “When nursing staff are collapsing, feeling dizzy, sick or even being admitted to the very hospitals they work in because their workplaces cannot handle the heat, it shows just how badly they are being failed.

“Nursing staff are the closest person to the patient and under the most pressure as the constant presence, but employers aren’t doing enough to put mitigations in place, with many staff left with no air con.

“It’s becoming an impossible and inhumane place to work or receive care, with vulnerable patients, including the elderly and those recovering from surgery, receiving care in temperatures that risk making them sicker. It’s unacceptable.

“Climate change isn’t some abstract concept but a serious threat to people’s health and the services they rely on. That’s why we need action, not in two or three years, but now, to prioritise and accelerate investment to upgrade facilities, adapting to the climate crisis as temperatures rise.”

RCN Wales Executive Director Nicola Williams, said the Welsh Government must take action to ensure that health and care facilities are prepared for climate change.

She said: “Nursing staff are incredibly resilient, diligent and committed to providing safe, high-quality care, but they should not have to work through additional pressures created by temperatures that are difficult for both staff and patients to manage.

“Extreme heat can also be particularly challenging for patients who are already unwell and vulnerable and nursing staff need the right environment and resources to provide the care they deserve.”

“The Welsh government must ensure our health and care facilities are fit for a changing climate, most hospital windows have been rightly fitted with restrictors so they cannot be opened very wide, urgent investment is needed in cooling and ventilation to protect staff and patients.

“Climate change is a health issue, and we need urgent action to make the NHS in Wales more prepared for the increasingly extreme temperatures we are experiencing. Staff and patients should not experience another summer like this one”

Addressing the concerns from the RCN, a Welsh Government spokesperson said:  “We take all concerns raised by our NHS and social care staff about workplace conditions seriously. Health boards and social care employers are expected to take appropriate steps to protect their workforce and the people they care for during periods of extreme heat and ensure suitable health and safety arrangements are in place.

“Care home providers are taking practical steps from hydration and adapting care routines to safe cooling measures, in line with established safety standards. Health boards have additional actions in train to enable delivery of safe services, and NHS Performance and Improvement are monitoring the situation closely.

“This government is committed to improving our nation’s preparedness for climate impacts, by making climate resilience a Cabinet-level, cross-cutting responsibility across all portfolio areas.

“We are investing over £500 million this year to modernise and safeguard the NHS estate. We will continue to work with NHS Wales organisations to discuss actions required for preparedness and resilience.”