NHS Website Sees Surge in Heat Health Advice Views as Temperatures Soar

In a week marked by soaring temperatures and impending industrial action by junior doctors, visits to the NHS website for heat exhaustion advice have more than doubled in the past 48 hours.

The surge in temperatures across England has prompted a significant rise in the number of people seeking guidance on coping with hot weather.

Heat Health Alert and Increased Web Traffic

A yellow heat health alert covering most of the country was issued on Monday, triggering a wave of interest in heat-related health information. According to NHS England, which manages the NHS website, there were 28,116 visits to the heat exhaustion page on 24 and 25 June. This is a 107% increase compared to the 13,598 visits recorded over the previous weekend. This equates to an average of one visit every six seconds.

Impact of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion typically does not require emergency medical attention if the individual can cool down within 30 minutes. However, if it escalates to heatstroke, it becomes a medical emergency. The NHS provides detailed advice on recognising the symptoms of heat exhaustion, including tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea, sweating, clammy skin, cramps, fast breathing or heartbeat, high temperature, extreme thirst, and weakness.

The recommended actions include moving the affected person to a cool place, removing unnecessary clothing, giving them a rehydration drink or cool water, and cooling their skin with water, a fan, or cold packs wrapped in a cloth. If the condition does not improve within 30 minutes, calling 999 is essential.

NHS Under Pressure from Heat and Industrial Action

The heatwave coincides with significant disruptions in the NHS due to a five-day strike by junior doctors, set to begin at 7am on Thursday, 27 June, and last until 7am on Tuesday, 2 July. Despite extensive planning and cover arrangements, the industrial action is expected to cause widespread disruption to routine care and challenges in discharging patients.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, highlighted the dual pressures facing the NHS: “We’ve seen a significant increase in people coming to the NHS website for heat-related health advice over the past 48 hours. Warmer weather, along with the latest round of industrial action, will put extra pressure on NHS services and make the next few days very difficult.”

Record Numbers in A&E and Diagnostic Services

The current situation is exacerbated by an already overwhelmed NHS. In May, more than 2.4 million people attended A&Es across the country, marking the busiest month on record. This follows the busiest ever April for diagnostic activity, with over 2.3 million tests, checks, and scans carried out.

Guidance for the Public

The NHS is urging the public to continue using NHS services as they normally would if needed. NHS 111 services are available for urgent needs, and 999 should be used for emergencies. The NHS website offers a wealth of information on how to stay cool, the symptoms of heat exhaustion, what to do if someone is affected, and when to seek medical advice.

Preventing Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

To prevent heat exhaustion or heatstroke, the NHS advises:

• Drinking more cold drinks, especially during physical activity.
• Wearing light-coloured, loose clothing.
• Avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm.
• Avoiding excessive alcohol.
• Avoiding extreme exercise.
• Keeping indoor spaces cool by closing curtains and windows if it’s hotter outside.

For more detailed information, visit the heat exhaustion and heatstroke page on the NHS website.