Extreme Heatwave Strains Public Services, Prompting Calls for Climate Adaptation Strategy

Rising temperatures have placed intense strain on public services, exposing gaps in climate resilience. South East Coast Ambulance Service reported a surge of up to 30 per cent in 999 calls during the hottest days of summer. This required the service to escalate its Resource Escalatory Action Plan to Level 4, the highest alert, before a critical incident was declared on June 25. During this period, average ambulance handover times at Worthing Hospital increased from 15.32 minutes to 21.06 minutes.

The strain is being felt across multiple public services, including the ambulance service and Worthing Hospital. The situation has prompted calls from leaders like Cllr Martin McCabe for a countywide approach to climate adaptation. This highlights the growing pressure on public health services due to extreme weather events.