Heatwaves are driving more falls and dizziness in England’s hospitals

Doctors and nurses in England say this summer’s heatwaves have led to more patients arriving with dizziness, falls and other heat-related problems, while staff have also struggled in stifling wards and emergency departments. The reports come as the country has endured several periods of extreme heat in recent weeks.

At Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, consultant Adrian Boyle said emergency doctors have seen older patients become light-headed, fall down stairs and suffer serious injuries during hot weather. He said one recent case involved multiple broken bones after a fall linked to the heat.

Other clinicians described similar pressures across the NHS, with people reporting faintness and dehydration as temperatures rose. The Guardian reported that the strain has added to already difficult working conditions for hospital teams during the summer.

The accounts fit a wider pattern seen during prolonged heat, when older adults and people with existing health problems are more vulnerable to falls and other complications. Public health officials have repeatedly warned that extreme temperatures can increase demand on health services.