More than 100 people across Wales were waiting for an ambulance on Tuesday as the NHS was hit with added pressure caused by the heatwave. The Welsh Ambulance Service said it had seen demand increase from patients with heat-related illnesses, and health boards said their emergency departments in particular were extremely busy and advised people to only call 999 in the most urgent situations.
On Monday Wales experienced its hottest ever day, with Hawarden, Flintshire, recording a top temperature of 37.1C - beating a previous high of 35.2C in the same place in 1990. On Tuesday London Heathrow reported a temperature of 40.2°C - the highest ever recorded in the UK.
Public health experts have repeatedly warned that this very hot weather has the potential to cause a spike in hospital admissions for dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. On top of this, doctors and nurses are also having to deal with an unwanted increase in hospital admissions for Covid-19 while also attempting to reduce the backlog of non-urgent cases.
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We contacted every health board in Wales and the Welsh Ambulance Service to ask how the extreme heat has affected their services.
Welsh Ambulance Service
Lee Brooks, the executive director of operations for the Welsh Ambulance Service, warned the public not to underestimate the impact of the heat on their health. He also confirmed the service had seen a rise in 999 calls - a high proportion relating to breathing problems and chest pain.
"Our plans to mitigate the impact of the heat began on Sunday and will continue throughout today [Tuesday] and into Wednesday," he said.
"The well-documented pressures on our ambulance service in recent weeks, like extensive hospital handover delays, sustained higher numbers of life-threatening ‘Red’ calls and Covid-19 related staff absence, have real potential to be worsened by the heat.
"As of 1pm we had 123 patients waiting for an ambulance response nationally - all of which were 'Amber' and 'Green' calls. Demand has increased, and some hospital sites have been very challenged for a timely handover of care at the emergency department, but we continue to prioritise the most critically ill or injured.
"We’d like to remind the public not to underestimate the impact of the heat on your health. There still remains very real danger despite the slight temperature drop, even if you’re fit and healthy but especially if you have a pre-existing heart or respiratory condition, like asthma or angina. A high proportion of calls yesterday were reporting breathing problems and chest pain. We also picked up that hydration is an issue for some patients.
"It is so important to take on fluids like water, squash or fruit juice and you can supplement this with watery foods like fruits and salads. And remember, to stay well keep out of the sun and wear loose-fitted clothing, and if you must venture out, wear sun cream and sunglasses and take extra care around open water.
"Thank you to our staff and volunteers who have endured the heat today and continue to do their very best to meet the needs of the public. Please only call 999 in a serious or life-threatening emergency."
Betsi Cadwaladr UHB
The health board's executive medical director, Dr Nick Lyons, said emergency departments in the region continue to be "extremely busy". He added that staff absences due to Covid, and the sheer volumes of people attending, have put "huge pressures" on the acute end of the system.
"We have seen some attendance related to the extreme weather conditions and we would urge all members of the public, and those visiting north Wales, to heed the wealth of advice about keeping safe," he said. "Please keep well hydrated, keep out of the sun and in shaded areas during the hottest parts of the day, if possible - and make sure you wear sunblock on exposed skin if you must go out.
"I would also like to remind the public we have a number of minor injuries units across north Wales which can be accessed. You can find a list of them on our website. For minor ailments you can also access advice at your local pharmacy. Further help can be sought via NHS Direct, by dialling 111. Above all please follow the advice, keep yourselves safe and respect the weather conditions."
Parts of north-east Wales have been severely affected by the heat, including Hawarden, Flintshire, which recorded the the country's highest ever temperature on Monday.
Aneurin Bevan UHB
A spokesman for the health board admitted that demand across its entire healthcare system was currently "unprecedented". "The addition of the extreme heat in recent days has further exacerbated this pressure," he said.
While the spokesman said the heat hasn't caused disruption to its services, it has placed additional strain on staff who are working "incredibly hard in such challenging conditions". "Thankfully, our communities are managing their own sunburn and the majority of other heat-related problems at home, allowing us to treat those with more serious illnesses and injuries," he added.
"We would like to thank local residents for taking proper precautions in the sun and would urge them to continue to do so over the coming days, as well as carefully considering where to go if they need to access our services. Residents should look out for symptoms of heat exhaustion, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fast breathing/ pulse rate and confusion, and should visit the 111 symptom checker if they need advice.”
“Local pharmacies can also offer advice and treatment for common problems caused by hot weather and should be the first port of call for help with sunburn, insect bites, mild heat stroke and hay fever."
Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB
Dr Matthew Jones, emergency medical consultant at Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, said the hot weather has resulted in more patients visiting A&E. "Heatwaves are always associated with an increase in attendances in the emergency department, and that is the full spectrum of illnesses and injuries to be honest, so heart attacks, strokes and everything else," he said.
"We also see direct heat-related illness which could be avoided if people were a bit more sensible, if they kept themselves hydrated, stayed out of the sun and just did sensible things."
On Saturday, before the heat wave hit Wales, deputy chief operating officer Sarah James said the excessive heat was already having an impact on staff, patients. "We are doing all we can to keep our staff and patients as safe and as comfortable as possible. That includes ensuring our patients arriving by ambulance are well cared for whilst they are waiting to be brought into the department."
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Louise Scannell, from the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, said there had been a steep rise in injuries from disposable barbecues buried on the beach which super heats the surrounding sand.
During hot spells like the one we have experienced, the burns and plastic team say they regularly deal with children, in particular, who have suffered serious sunburn injuries.
"Sunburn is a huge issue for our department, and children burn very easily. It can take only a few minutes for them to burn no matter what the temperature," said Louise, who is the paediatric lead for burns and plastic surgery.
"Parents need to ensure their children are protected from the sun and have sun cream applied every two hours – more regularly if they’ve been in the water or sweating – and are kept hydrated.
"Just a few minutes applying a high-factor sun cream could save you and your child a lot of pain and suffering. The higher factor the better, and it’s important that you don’t use an old lotion that’s been left in the cupboard for a while."
But Louise warned adults have to take care of themselves too as they saw a “considerable amount” of sunburned adults during an earlier hot spell. A lot of sunburned patients are seen in Morriston's emergency department (A&E), while the more severe cases have to be referred to the burns and plastics team.
Louise added: "We hear similar things from patients when we see them - they often say they should have been more sensible and done the basic things like staying in the shade, applying sun cream regularly and keeping hydrated. But it’s too late by then.
"It can be extremely painful. The only way to treat it is by putting a dressing on the wound and keeping the patient cool and hydrated. A superficial sunburn should heal within seven days, but it’s also the trauma and stress caused not just the pain."
Cardiff and Vale UHB
Over the weekend an air conditioning unit failed at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, affecting the chemotherapy area of the Rainbow Ward. You can read more about that here.
However, unlike some other parts of Wales, hospitals in Cardiff and Vale UHB have not seen an upsurge in demand as a result of the recent hot weather.
"During this period, we have worked to manage conditions at our sites by introducing additional air conditioning and fans, and worked with our colleagues in the Welsh Ambulance Service to minimise handover times for the comfort of patients and crews," a spokesman said.
"We have also relaxed uniform policy where appropriate and provided refreshments for our staff, who as ever deserve huge thanks for the outstanding commitment and dedication they have continued to show in the face of ongoing challenges and in difficult conditions.
"We would like to thank the public who have heeded the advice that we have been regularly sharing for staying safe in the hot weather, which is available on our website and social media channels.
"For those who do need to access healthcare, please remember that community pharmacists can help with a series of heat related conditions, such as prickly heat and sunburn. If you are concerned about your symptoms, please use the NHS 111 Wales symptom checker, or call NHS 111 Wales to speak to a call handler or to access urgent care.”
Hywel Dda UHB and Powys Teaching health board were also approached for comment.
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