Wildfires burn and patients face long waits for A&E amid hot weather
Burning Britain: Wildfires ravage the countryside as fire crews brace for even more blazes when three-day 100F meltdown begins on Sunday… while A&E patients suffer 24-HOUR wait due to heat-related chaos
- Rail bosses say trains may have to be cancelled and speed restrictions imposed, doubling journey times
- Roads could also be shut and air travel affected while some hospitals have declared ‘critical incidents’
- Patients are already suffering ‘handover waits’ of up to 24 hours in A&E because of extreme temperatures
- Temperatures are set to hit 30C (86F) today, before dipping to 27C (81F) between tomorrow and Saturday
- They will then soar again from Sunday with Met Office saying there is 30% chance of hottest day on record
Wildfires continued to rage across Britain today amid warnings that the country could be crippled by even hotter temperatures from Sunday – as the heatwave is set to cause chaos to transport, the NHS and other key services.
Smoke continued to billow from fires on Salisbury Plain today, after the Ministry of Defence said three blazes were caused by live firing during military training on Monday – with locals urged to keep their windows shut.
There was also a major grass fire on the Pembrokeshire coast near the popular seaside resort of Tenby – after other blazes at a solar farm in Dorset, and in fields in Norfolk and North Yorkshire, all sparked by the blistering weather.
Rail bosses say trains may have to be cancelled and speed restrictions imposed due to high track temperatures, doubling journey times for passengers – while the Met Office said roads could also be shut and flights cancelled.
Some hospitals have already declared ‘critical incidents’ and every ambulance trust in England is on the highest level of alert, with patients already suffering up to 24-hour handover waits in A&E because of the heat.
Councils have also warned binmen may be forced to halt collections and unions have urged firms to allow staff to work from home or leave the office early to avoid overheating at their desks or on their daily commute.
But while workers have been seen walking with fans in an attempt to cool down, those Britons not at work are making the most of the balmy temperatures as they flock to beaches or splash about in fountains and streams.
The Met Office and UK Health Security Agency expect the weather to be life-threatening with forecasts that the mercury could top 40C (104F) in Britain for the first time at some point between this Sunday and Tuesday.
Temperatures are set to hit 30C (86F) again today, before dipping slightly to 27C (81F) between tomorrow and Saturday – then soaring again from Sunday. Temperatures of up to 38C (100F) are currently forecast for London next Monday and Tuesday, and no respite is expected until next Wednesday when highs of 25C (77F) are due.
It continues the prolonged hot spell that has seen highs of 31.7C (89.1F) in Surrey yesterday after 32C (90F) in London on Monday, 30.1C (86.2F) last Sunday, 27.5C (81.5F) last Saturday, and 29.3C (84.7F) last Friday.
Last night was the second ‘tropical night’ in a row – a declaration made when temperatures do not fall below 20C (68F) all night. The lowest temperature in London overnight was 21.5C (70.7F) on what was the UK’s warmest night of the year so far – one day after minimum overnight temperatures of 20.5C (68.9F) in Sheffield on Monday night.
Despite the heat in recent days, June 17 still stands as the hottest day of 2022 so far when 32.7C (90.9F) was recorded in London. The UK’s highest ever temperature was 38.7C (101.6F) in Cambridge on July 15, 2019.
Very high temperatures are also being seen in Spain, Portugal and France this week – with Seville hitting 42C (108F) amid a lack of rainfall, wildfires visible in Lisbon and temperatures of up to 39C in some parts of France.
Smoke billows from a grass fire today above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales
A grass fire has taken hold of land above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire today
Smoke billows from a grass fire today above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales
A grass fire has taken hold of land above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire today
Smoke billows from a grass fire today above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales
A grass fire has taken hold of land above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire today
Smoke billows from a grass fire today above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales
A grass fire has taken hold of land above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire today
Smoke billows from a grass fire today above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales
A grass fire has taken hold of land above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire today
Smoke billows from a grass fire today above Monkstone Beach between Tenby and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales
The Government said ministers and officials are drawing up plans with the NHS and councils amid concerns the lives of vulnerable people, such as children, the elderly or those with existing health conditions, could be at risk.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: ‘There is significant work going on across government in making sure those who are most vulnerable to high temperatures are looked after and given the requisite advice.’
What are the potential impacts of extreme heat during amber warning?
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat for the whole on Sunday and Monday, covering most of England and some of Wales.
The extreme heat warning system ranges from yellow to red and indicates how likely and how much of an impact the weather will have on public life. An amber warning states that temperatures are likely to have a high impact.
The warning for Sunday states: ‘Some exceptionally high temperatures are possible during Sunday and could lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure’.
Forecasters say the heatwave could impact the health of everyone – not only the vulnerable – while it could also impact electricity, gas and water supplies. Here is how it could impact different parts of daily life:
RAIL TRAVEL
The Met Office says that delays and cancellations to rail travel are possible with ‘potential for significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays’.
Network Rail has warned that services across the UK may be subject to speed restrictions to avoid tracks buckling, with South Western Railway and Heathrow Express among the operators warning of potential disruption. West Midlands Trains imposed a 20mph limits yesterday on the route between Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa and Kidderminster.
ROADS
The Met Office says that delays on roads and road closures are possible during the heat alert period.
The RAC has urged motorists to ‘think carefully before they drive, and do everything they can to avoid a breakdown’. It says motorists should check the coolant and oil levels under the bonnet when the engine is cold.
It added: ‘If temperatures were to go as high as around 40c as some are predicting, then people should question their decision to drive in the first place.’
Hampshire County Council is preparing to deploy gritters in response to melting roads, saying that the machines will be spreading light dustings of sand which ‘acts like a sponge to soak up excess bitumen’.
Motorists who find tar stuck to their tyres are advised to wash it off with warm soapy water.
AIRPORTS
The Met Office has warned that air travel could also be disruption during the heat. This is because planes can become too heavy to take off in very hot weather due to reduced air density resulting in a lack of lift.
This happened during a heatwave in summer 2018 at London City Airport when some passengers had to be removed so the services become light enough to take off on the relatively short runway.
UTILITIES
The Met Office has warned that a failure of ‘heat-sensitive systems and equipment’ is possible. This could result in a loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity and gas.
Hot weather can lead to high demand on the power network because people are turning on fans and air conditioning – and the heat can also lead to a drop in the efficiency of overhead power cables and transformers.
WORKPLACES
The Met Office says that ‘changes in working practices and daily routines will be required’ in the extreme heat.
There is no specific law for a maximum working temperature, or when it is too hot to work.
But employers are expected to ensure that in offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be ‘reasonable’. Companies must follow follow health and safety laws which include keeping the temperature at a comfortable level, known as ‘thermal comfort’; and providing clean and fresh air.
The Trades Union Congress says that during heatwaves staff should be allowed to start work earlier, or stay later, leave jackets and ties in the wardrobe and have regular breaks. It is also calling for an absolute maximum indoor temperature of 30C (86F) – or 27C (81F) for strenuous jobs – to legally indicate when work should stop.
HEALTH
The Met Office has said that adverse health effects could be ‘experienced by all, not just limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life’ during the amber warning.
In addition, charity Asthma and Lung UK has warned up to three million asthma sufferers could be affected by high pollen levels, so should use their inhalers.
SCHOOLS
Plans to cope with the heat, created by the NHS and UKHSA, say children should not do ‘vigorous physical activity’ when temperatures rise above 30C (86F).
Some sports days have been cancelled this week, while official advice suggests moving school start, end and break times to avoid the hottest points in the day.
Official word from the Government on how schools should respond to the heat could be sent later this week – but it may be left to headteachers to decide.
But critics questioned the need for a national emergency response, saying it was indicative of the ‘snowflake Britain’ we now live in.
Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘It is not surprising that in snowflake Britain, the snowflakes are melting.
‘The idea that we clamour for hot weather for most of the year and then shutdown when it does heat up is indicative of the state in which we now live.’
The Trades Union Congress called for a maximum indoor temperature of 30C (86F) – or 27C (81F) for those doing strenuous jobs – to indicate when work should legally stop. No official limit currently exists.
It also wants companies to allow staff to come in earlier or stay later to ‘avoid the stifling and unpleasant conditions of the rush-hour commute’, adding: ‘Bosses should consider enabling staff to work from home while it is hot.’
Yesterday the Met Office extended its rare ‘amber’ warning for extreme heat across large parts of England and Wales into the beginning of next week.
The warning initially covered all day Sunday but will now run until 11.59pm on Monday, forecasters said. It is only the third time such a warning has been issued.
The amber warning covering for Sunday and Monday says there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects not just limited to the most vulnerable.
There could also be road closures, and delays and cancellations to rail and air travel.
Met Office forecaster Matthew Box said: ‘As we get into Sunday it looks like we could see temperatures rise into the high 20s and into the low 30s as well but potentially a few spots getting 34C or 35C by Sunday and probably the same again on Monday.
‘We could see by Monday temperatures getting towards the mid or high 30s and there’s about a 30 per cent chance we could see the UK record broken, most likely on Monday at the moment.’
High temperatures may also last into Tuesday. ‘It’s looking like things are going to become hot or very hot as we go through the weekend and into next week,’ Mr Box added.
He explained the heatwave is a result of hot air flowing to the UK from the continent.
He said: ‘What happens as we get into the weekend, the high pressure becomes centred to the east of the UK and that allow a southerly flow of air to drag up, the very warm air that’s over France at the moment, and drag it northwards to the UK over the weekend, perhaps more so on Sunday and into Monday.’
Temperatures were hottest in London and the South of England yesterday as people flocked to beaches such as Bournemouth and Brighton.
Others enjoyed city centre fountains and streams, such as in the River Darent in Eynsford, Kent.
However, it was slightly cooler and cloudier in northern areas, with some light showers reported in the North West and Yorkshire.
Overnight temperatures are also much warmer than normal, forecasters said.
Monday night was officially ‘tropical’ in parts of Yorkshire and the East Midlands, with overnight temperatures not dipping below 20.5C (69F) in Sheffield.
The hot weather is already causing problems across some services, with all ambulance trusts in England on the highest level of alert due to extreme pressures caused by high temperatures and Covid-19 absences among staff.
One hospital reported an ambulance delayed for 24 hours outside A&E on Monday evening.
Another trust, which runs the Queen Alexander Hospital, in Portsmouth, declared a ‘critical incident’ due to the weather and staff sickness.
London Ambulance Service urged the public to support it as the heat continues by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency, keeping hydrated and staying out of the sun during the hottest periods of the day.
And South Oxfordshire District Council warned that bin collections may have to stop because of the heat – with residents advised to leave bins out for two days after their scheduled collection if they are not emptied.
Warnings over delays to bin collections have also been issued for residents in Greenwich, South East London.
Network Rail also said it was gearing up to implementing widespread speed restrictions to prevent tracks buckling.
The firm, which is responsible for 20,000 miles of track in the UK, said that when air temperatures top 30C the temperature on the steel rails can be as much as 20C higher.
A spokesman said journey times could be substantially longer due to the slower services and urged passengers to take plenty of water with them.
Although water firms are not yet bringing in hosepipe bans, they admitted reservoir supplies are lower than average because of less rainfall than usual in 2022.
They urged people to help conserve supplies, by turning off taps when brushing their teeth or washing dishes, running dishwashers only when full, switching the garden hose for watering cans, reusing paddling pool water for plants, letting the lawn go brown and avoiding washing cars.
Commuters travel on the Jubilee Line this morning during stifling temperatures on the London Underground network
Passengers commute to work on the Jubilee line this morning as they continue to face high temperatures on the Underground
Passengers commute to work on the Jubilee line this morning as they continue to face high temperatures on the Underground
Passengers wait for the doors to close on a Jubilee line train at Bermondsey station in South East London this morning
Three people run into the sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside early this morning as the heatwave continues
People in the sea at sunrise off Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning amid the hot weather
A beautiful sunrise over the River Thames at Gravesend in Kent this morning as the heatwave continues
The sun rises over the River Thames at Gravesend in Kent this morning with more high temperatures on the way
A beautiful sunrise over the River Thames at Gravesend in Kent this morning as the heatwave continues
The sun rises over the River Thames at Gravesend in Kent this morning with more high temperatures on the way
Yorkshire Water said it pumped 200 million litres more water than normal on Monday, an amount equivalent to supplying another city the size of Leeds.
What are Britain’s ten hottest days on record?
1) 38.7C – July 25, 2019
2) 38.5C – August 10, 2003
3) 37.8C – July 31, 2020
4) 37.1C – August 3, 1990
=5) 36.7C – July 1, 2015
=5) 36.7C – August 9, 1911
7) 36.6C – August 2, 1990
8) 36.5C – July 19, 2006
=9) 36.4C – August 7, 2020
=9) 36.4C – August 6, 2003
The hot weather has already claimed the lives of two 16-year-old boys, with police and charities urging teenagers to think twice about jumping into rivers, lakes and reservoirs to cool off.
The body of Jamie Lewin, from Southport, Merseyside, was recovered from a quarry in Appley Bridge, near Wigan, on Saturday.
And Alfie McCraw, who was out celebrating the end of his GCSE examinations with friends, drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming in the Aire and Calder Navigation, near Southern Washlands, West Yorkshire, on Monday evening.
The Royal Life Saving Society UK warned people about the dangers of trying to cool off in lakes, quarries, rivers and other waterways in the extremely hot weather.
Meanwhile a sun cream brand is to stop producing products with an SPF of lower than 50 for children and 15 for adults to encourage customers to lower their risk of developing skin cancer.
Boots’ own-brand Soltan has stopped making SPF 30 products for children and SPF 8 products for adults as part of a partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve awareness of sun safety.
SPF (Sun protection factor) refers to the amount of UVB protection a product provides from the damaging effects of the sun.
The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from UVB rays and sunburn and the lower the risk of developing skin cancer.
It comes as all ambulance services in England are on the highest level of alert and are under ‘extreme pressure’.
An ‘amber’ extreme heat warning issued by the Met Office covering much of England and Wales on Sunday and Monday says there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects not just limited to the most vulnerable
A combination of Covid absences among staff, difficulty caused by the hot weather and ongoing delays in handing over patients to A&E has left ambulance trusts struggling to cope.
How to look after your wellbeing in heatwave
At what point should you be concerned that symptoms you feel in the heat might point something more worrying? Here, doctors tell you what to look out for:
– Loss of appetite
‘In hot weather, you may notice a decrease in your appetite,’ says Dr Bryony Henderson, lead GP at digital healthcare provider, Livi.
‘This is because our bodies are trying to regulate our body temperature by cutting down on heat-generating functions like the digestion of food. However, if you have been experiencing a persistent loss of appetite that doesn’t seem to be related to a simple explanation, such as the hot weather, consult with your GP.’
– Feeling thirsty
It is important to stay hydrated during a heatwave, particularly as you might be losing more fluids than normal due to sweat. But what if your thirst feels like it just cannot be quenched?
This could be ‘a sign of high sugar or diabetes’, said Dr Angela Rai, GP at The London General Practice, so you might want to see a doctor.
– Breathlessness
Breathlessness could be a sign of heat exhaustion – along with dizziness, headaches, cramps and nausea. Dr Henderson says: ‘It’s important to take action to cool your body down quickly and avoid heatstroke. Move to a shady area or cool room as soon as possible, then lie down and raise your feet slightly.
‘Make sure to drink plenty of water or a sports drink. Cool your skin by spraying it with tepid water or switching on a fan, and, if you can, try placing ice packs on your groin, armpits or neck. If you’re still feeling unwell 30 minutes after cooling down, call emergency services.’
If breathlessness persists – or you suspect it is not due to the heat – Dr Rai says it can also be a sign of heart or lung conditions. She recommended watching out for signs of wheezing, as this could potentially signal ‘an underlying lung condition’.
– Fingers swelling
If you regularly wear rings, you will be well acquainted with the feeling of panic when you realise your fingers have swollen up in the heat, making it difficult to slide them off. And it is not just your fingers – your shoes might feel tighter, too.
Dr Henderson said this is ‘because the blood vessels in our bodies expand to send more blood to the skin to cool down the body’.
There is a simple fix for it though – ‘Running your hands under a cool tap can help to reduce swelling and remember to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water,’ she says. While fingers and feet typically do swell in the heat, Dr Rai adds: ‘It can also be linked to autoimmune and rheumatological conditions.’
– Clammy skin
Feeling sweaty is part and parcel of extreme temperatures. However, if your normal sweating is coupled with pale and clammy skin, Dr Rai said this can be associated with heart conditions, especially if there is also chest pain.
She added: ‘If there is chest pain and sweating, this could be angina or even signs of a heart attack, and urgent medical attention is required.’
All 10 ambulance services have confirmed they were on the highest level of alert after the Health Service Journal (HSJ) first reported they were.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had been on the highest level of alert – known as REAP 4 – for a few months, while South Central Ambulance Service said it was also at REAP 4, which means trusts are under ‘extreme pressure’.
South Central added that it had also declared a critical incident ‘due to current pressures on our services’.
It said in a statement: ‘We continue to prioritise our response to those patients with life-threatening and serious emergencies but, due to the current levels of pressure we are seeing, there will be delays in responding to other patients with less urgent needs who are assessed as requiring an ambulance response.
‘We are experiencing an increasing number of 999 calls into our service, combined with patients calling back if there is a delay in our response to them. As a result, our capacity to take calls is being severely challenged.
‘This is combined with the challenges of handing patients over to busy hospitals across our region and a rise in Covid infections, as well as other respiratory illnesses, among both staff and in our communities.
‘This week we are also faced with high temperatures across our region which we know will lead to an increase in demand on our service. All of these issues combined are impacting on our ability to respond to patients.’
A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘As a result of the recent warm weather and increased demand, we have decided to step up to Level 4 of Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP).
‘In moving to REAP Level 4, we will be maximising all available resources, increasing staffing levels in emergency call centres and on the road.
‘We urge the public to reserve the 999 service for emergencies only and consider if their GP, pharmacist or 111.nhs.uk could provide them with the medical help they need.’
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed it moved to REAP 4 this week.
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said it had moved to REAP 4 ‘as a result of a sustained demand on both our 999 and 111 services, and with hot weather set to continue over the next few days’.
He added: ‘The public can support us by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency and by taking steps to keep hydrated and stay out of the sun at the hottest periods of the day.’
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust also confirmed it was at REAP 4, as did the East Midlands Ambulance Service, the East of England Ambulance Service and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
North East Ambulance Service said it increased its alert level on Monday.
Donna Hay, strategic commander at the service, said: ‘As a result of sustained pressure on our service and wider system pressures, as well as anticipated pressure continuing over the next week, including a potential increase in heat-related incidents, we made a decision to increase our operational alert level to four on 11 July.
‘The public can continue to support us by only calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency.’
Shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said: ‘Twelve years of Conservative mismanagement has left our ambulance service in crisis.
‘Patients are left for far longer than is safe and lives are being lost as a result.’
According to HSJ, West Midlands had more than half of its ambulance crews queued outside hospitals at one point on Monday.
A spokesman for the trust said one ambulance crew had to wait 24 hours to hand a patient over.
Smoke billows from wildfires on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire yesterday after live firing during military training on Monday
Training safety officials at the scene of the Salisbury Plain wildfires in Wiltshire yesterday – which are continuing today
Dozens of ambulances are pictured queuing outside the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske on Monday at about 4.30pm
Meanwhile, the chief executive of an acute trust in the Midlands region told HSJ: ‘We had a very very challenged night for handovers last night, possibly the worst ever and it is only July.’
Martin Flaherty, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, said: ‘The NHS ambulance sector is under intense pressure, with all ambulance services operating at the highest level of four within their local resource escalation action plans, normally only ever reserved for major incidents or short-term periods of unusual demand.
‘Severe delays in ambulance crews being able to hand over their patients at many hospital emergency departments are having a very significant impact on the ambulance sector’s ability to respond to patients as quickly as we would like to, because our crews and vehicles are stuck outside those hospitals.
‘Added to this, we have a number of staff absences due to a rise in Covid cases as well as additional pressure caused by the current hot weather, which is making things even tougher for our staff and of course the patients they are caring for.’
He urged people not to call 999 back to ask about an estimated arrival time unless the patient’s condition has changed.
A spokesman for NHS England said: ‘Near record levels of 999 calls, challenges discharging patients to social care settings, increasing Covid cases – leading to more than 20,000 staff absences – and the current heatwave is inevitably having an impact on NHS capacity.
‘It, however, remains vital that the public continue to dial 999 in an emergency and use 111 online, or their local pharmacy for other health issues and advice.’
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