The NHS must urgently adapt to rising temperatures and surging demand, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has warned, as new figures reveal persistent corridor care and mounting pressure on urgent and emergency services.
Data from June 2026 paints a stark picture of a healthcare system already stretched to capacity and now facing the escalating impact of extreme heat. With temperatures soaring across the UK, hospital admissions have risen significantly—particularly among older people—and frontline services are struggling to cope.
Record demand and unsafe conditions
According to the latest NHS statistics, emergency departments across England recorded 2.4 million attendances in June, the second-highest monthly total ever. On average:
- 2,432 patients per day were treated in spaces not designed for care
- 749 daily instances of corridor care were recorded, representing a 14% increase on May
These figures underscore the persistence of corridor care, where patients are treated in hallways and other unsuitable environments—raising serious concerns about dignity, safety, and quality of care.
Heatwaves intensifying NHS pressure
The data follows a period of exceptionally hot weather, which health leaders say is increasingly driving demand for services. Extreme heat has been linked to:
- Higher rates of heat-related illness and dehydration
- Increased admissions for respiratory, kidney, infectious and metabolic conditions
- Greater strain on hospital capacity
New research highlights the growing link between extreme temperatures and hospital admissions for conditions such as acute renal failure, COPD, pneumonia and metabolic disorders.
Older people are especially vulnerable. Those aged 85 and over face the highest risk of heat-related hospital admissions, with heat exacerbating existing chronic illnesses and increasing the likelihood of complications.
RCP calls for urgent national plan
In response, the RCP is calling for a comprehensive national strategy to make the NHS more resilient to extreme weather. Key recommendations include:
- Investment in hospital infrastructure, including improved ventilation and cooling systems
- Better planning for seasonal surges in demand
- Action to improve patient flow and reduce delayed discharges
- Expanding overall capacity and workforce support
The organisation warns that without decisive action, the NHS will struggle to cope with the worsening effects of climate change.
“The NHS is not fit for a hotter future”
Professor Mumtaz Patel, RCP president, said:
‘These new figures expose the severe pressure facing patients and staff across the NHS, as overcrowded services contend with the added challenge of extreme hot weather.
‘No patient should receive care in a corridor or any other space not designed for treatment. It is unsafe, undignified and unacceptable. Corridor care has a deeply negative impact on patients, who are denied privacy, dignity and safe care environments, and on NHS staff, who are left trying to deliver care in conditions that make that harder.
Extreme heat is no longer a rare event. It is a growing public health challenge that places additional pressure on health services and staff already stretched beyond capacity, ultimately affecting the quality and safety of patient care.
‘The NHS is not fit for a hotter future. Government and NHS leaders must act urgently to increase capacity, tackle the causes of corridor care and make sure the health service is prepared for the growing health impacts of climate change.’
A system at a tipping point
As climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, NHS leaders face a dual challenge: managing immediate pressures while future-proofing services. The persistence of corridor care, combined with rising demand linked to extreme weather, highlights the urgent need for systemic reform.
For healthcare managers and decision-makers, the message is clear—resilience planning is no longer optional; it is essential to safeguarding patient care and staff wellbeing in a rapidly changing climate.
Image credit: iStock
