RCN warns of ‘inhumane’ heat as Burnham defers climate adaptation

The Royal College of Nursing has issued a stark warning that staff are collapsing and suffering heat-related illnesses in UK hospitals and care homes, describing the conditions as inhumane and impossible. As temperatures across England approach 36C, the union is calling for an urgent programme to install air conditioning and improve ventilation, citing testimonies from nurses who report working in wards exceeding 30C without adequate cooling.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking after a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee, stated that the administration is prioritising immediate crisis management over broader policy shifts. While acknowledging the severity of the current heatwave, Burnham deferred questions regarding the case against renewed North Sea drilling, insisting that “the bigger questions” on climate adaptation would be addressed at the “right moment in time” rather than during the current emergency.

The scale of the environmental stress is evident in official data, with three-quarters of England now in drought and the number of days exceeding 30C reaching a record 35. Firefighters are battling blazes in the New Forest, and rail operators have advised passengers to travel only if vital due to likely service disruptions. An amber heat warning is set to come into force across large parts of England on Thursday, compounding pressures on infrastructure that MPs argue was built for a climate that no longer exists.

Political pressure is mounting from within the Labour Party, with backbenchers and unions criticising the government’s slow response. MP Chris Hinchliff described the summer as a “wake-up call” for Westminster, arguing that infrastructure resilience must become a top priority. Critics have pointed to a Freedom of Information request revealing that only 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, despite warnings from the Climate Change Adaptation Committee that the UK is lagging significantly in its preparedness.

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the strain on the NHS, stating that the health service must now plan for summer pressures with the same rigour applied to winter crises. This includes ensuring building resilience against extreme heat. Meanwhile, Burnham raised the possibility of a temporary ban on disposable barbecues to mitigate fire risks, a move retailers have been urged to consider ahead of any potential government legislation.