Tennis fans are being rushed from Wimbledon to a major London hospital, which is seeing a near record high number of A&E admissions as heatwaves hit the capital.
The Emergency Department at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, dealt with 574 patients on June 29, during the second heatwave of the year for London.
This was the highest number of A&E patients apart from June 12, 2023, when the number was 580.
For both peaks, heat exhaustion and dehydration were drivers of emergency admissions.
With temperatures above 30C for many days this week in London’s third heatwave, hospital chiefs said they were working with the All England Lawn Tennis Club to keep sports fans safe, with on-site support or hospital treatment if needed.
Nicola Shopland, Site Chief Nurse at St George’s, said: “The heat can make people seriously unwell and puts extra pressure on our already busy hospitals.
“We’ll look after you if you need us, but everyone can help us by staying hydrated and safely enjoying the warm weather, World Cup and Wimbledon.”
Doctors and nurses have treated people coming from the tennis tournament with heatstroke and other heat-related.
Patients are attending A&E with dehydration and acute kidney injury, which particularly affects older and more vulnerable people.
Epsom and St Helier hospitals, which is part of the same NHS trust, also saw more people attending their Emergency Departments during the heatwaves, driving their busiest weekend on June 27 and 28 since last winter.
Hospital bosses are urging people to take steps to protect their health during heatwaves which have also left many people in London struggling to sleep in tropical nights.
Measures being advised include:
* Spending time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm
* Wearing a hat, sunglasses and loose, light clothing
* Using sunscreen SPF 30 or higher and reapplying regularly
* Drinking plenty of fluids regularly – don’t wait until you feel thirsty
* Choosing water or diluted drinks and avoiding too much alcohol or caffeine
* Looking out for others around you, especially those who may be more vulnerable
Temperatures in London could reach 32C on Wednesday before peaking for the week on Thursday at 34C and remaining at 30C or above until at least Saturday, according to the Met Office.
Thunderstorms could erupt over the capital at the end of the week.
Thames Water has also urged people to stop using hosepipes to water their gardens and wash their cars during the heatwaves.
During last month’s heatwave, St George’s used AI to assist in identifying and contacting more than 2,000 vulnerable patients, offering to reschedule or arrange virtual appointments.
It is doing the same this week to help patients avoid unnecessary travel.
