The Unison union is urging NHS trusts to implement strict safety measures for ambulance crews during extreme heat,including the introduction of maximum working temperatures.. This push comes as Health Secretary Yvette Cooper mandates that NHS trusts begin preparing for summer demand surges to protect both staff and vulnerable patients.
Unison's push for a maximum working temperature and hydration breaks
Unison is calling on NHS trusts to establish a maximum working temperature to protect emergency workers from conditions that the union describes as "harmful to their health." According to the report, the union is seeking guaranteed recovery breaks, proper access to drinking water, and a clear policy to pull vehicles from service if their air conditioning systems fail.
These demands align with broader labor goals in the UK; the Trades Union Congress has previously advocated for a legal maximum working temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, which would drop to 27 degrees Celsius for those performing strenuous work. Unison is also requesting seasonal uniform updates , such as sun hats and lighter-weight clothing or shorts,to replace heavy uniforms that are not designed for high-temperature environments.
The 2,700 additional deaths that triggered Yvette Cooper's summer mandate
Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper has ordered NHS trusts to treat summer pressures with the same urgency as winter surges. This directive follows a stark statistic: there were approximately 2,700 additional deaths linked to heatwaves during May and June, as reported in the source. Cooper noted that A&E departments have seen a spike in heat-related admissions comparable to typical winter peaks.
The urgency is further underscored by the UK Health Security Agency, which recently warned that England is on track for the highest number of heat-related deaths since current record-keeping began. This trend is mirrored by Met Office data, which showed temperatures peaking at 35 degrees Celsius in May, creating a volatile environment for the UK's healthcare infrastructure.
Broken air conditioning and 30°C hospital hand-over queues
Paramedics have reported working in "stifling heat" due to faulty or non-existent air conditioning in their ambulances. The report highlights a grueling reality where staff have spent hours queuing outside hospitals to hand over patients in temperatures often exceeding 30°C. These conditions are compounded by the physical toll of treating patients in overheated private homes and care facilities.
The lack of basic infrastructure, such as reliable access to toilets and drinking water during these shifts, has left ambulance workers feeling "physically and mentally exhausted." Sharan Bandesha, the national ambulance officer at Unison, argues that while winter plans are well-established, the NHS has failed to implement similar systemic protections for the increasingly frequent extreme heat of summer.
The risk of delayed 999 responses during peak heat
A critical tension exists between worker safety and patient access: under the proposed union plans to stop crews from working in dangerous heat, patients dialing 999 might have to wait for temperatures to drop before an ambulance arrives. This creates a precarious situation for elderly patients who, as Unison acknowledges, are already suffering from dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
Several key questions remain unanswered by the current proposals. It is unclear exactly what temperature threshold would trigger a service stoppage, or how the NHS would maintain emergency coverage if a significant portion of the fleet were grounded due to AC failure. Furthermore, the report does not specify whether the government intends to provide additional funding for the "seasonal uniform options" and vehicle repairs requested by Unison.
Comments 0