Nurses Fainting in Extreme Heat Due to Inhumane Conditions, Union Warns

## Nurses Collapsing Amid Extreme Heat Nurses are collapsing during shifts due to extreme heat, according to the Royal College of Nursing. The union has warned that the conditions are "inhumane and impossible" for staff to work in. The extreme heat has caused temperatures to reach over 30C in some hospital wards and care homes, leaving staff struggling to keep up with their duties. A nurse working in a critical care unit in the south-west of England told The Guardian that her ward had reached temperatures of over 30C, with staff struggling to cope with the conditions. "Our ward doesn't have air conditioning, and so we're all really struggling. We've had hot summers before, but I can't remember ever working in conditions like these back to back," she said. Another nurse working in a community health centre in England described the conditions as unbearable. "It gets to the point you dread going to work, especially when wearing PPE and providing patient care. We drip with sweat from head to toe," she said. ## Government Response to Extreme Heat The government has been warned by the climate change adaptation committee that it is lagging behind in terms of adapting to a new climate. The Royal College of Nursing has called for an urgent programme to install air conditioning, improve ventilation, and provide heat-appropriate uniforms for staff. Health and social care secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the impact of the extreme heat on public health and the NHS. "The extreme heat is hitting public health and our NHS. Across the NHS and social care, staff are doing a remarkable job to respond to rising A&E attendances and ambulance call-outs, heat problems among the elderly and difficult working conditions," she said. However, some Labour MPs are concerned that the government is not taking sufficient action to address the issue. One Labour MP said, "Adaptation has always been the poor relation in government. Look how much better we are at getting energy projects off the ground than reservoirs." ## Climate Adaptation and Emergency Response The government has been warned by the Fire Brigades Union that firefighters need new equipment and resources to face the growing threats from a climate changing at speed. The union has also warned that the government is lagging behind in terms of adapting to a new climate. Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, has promised to grapple with "the bigger questions" of climate adaptation. However, he has refused to say if the summer has made the case against renewed drilling in the North Sea, which his government is considering. The government has also been warned by the climate change adaptation committee that it is lagging behind in terms of adapting to a new climate. The committee has called for the government to take immediate action to address the issue. The extreme heat has also led to warnings of a very high risk of wildfires in parts of eastern and southern Scotland. Train passengers on some networks are being warned by rail operators to only travel if the journey is vital, as services are likely to be disrupted due to the weather. The government has promised to take action to address the issue, but some Labour MPs are concerned that it is not taking sufficient action. One Labour MP said, "This has to be one of the top priorities for government. It's a well-recognised fact that our country was built for a climate that no longer exists. It's putting enormous pressure on our infrastructure, our railways, our schools, our hospitals, and it threatens a real impact on people's living standards.