An assessment of mortality associated with the extreme heat episode in the week commencing 22 June 2026 is not yet available. The UK Health Security Agency expects to publish a Heat Mortality Bulletin shortly, which will provide an initial estimate of heat-associated mortality during the May and June 2026 heat episodes. Final estimates will be published in the 2026 Heat Mortality Monitoring Report in early 2027.

In the week commencing 22 June 2026, 13 critical incidents were declared by National Health Service trusts and reported to NHS England related to extreme heat. The reporting organisations are as follows: East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust; Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; London Ambulance Service NHS Trust; Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust; North Bristol NHS Trust; Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust; Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust; South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust; and University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust.

Responsibilities for water safety sit with various Government departments and agencies. As part of its “Beat the Heat” campaign, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) includes a stay safe when swimming section, including links to the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s advice on cold water shock. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather

In partnership with the Met Office, UKHSA provides early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector, and Government departments through the Weather-Health Alerting System. This happens when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. Further information is available at the following link:

https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts

The Cabinet Office is responsible for emergency alerts which are considered for a range of risks under the National Risk Register. Local responders are able to request an emergency alert in their area. The Cabinet Office considers requests on a case-by-case basis.

Emergency alerts will only be issued when they meet the thresholds for use. There must be a risk to life in a defined area, with immediate action for the public to take to keep themselves safe. The criteria have been set intentionally high to avoid alert fatigue.

At Queen’s Hospital Emergency Department in Romford, staff work proactively to ensure readiness for increased patient numbers during periods of extreme temperatures with real-time monitoring of the impact on services. Staff are supported in looking after patients by a trust-wide adverse weather plan. The building itself has air handling units which maintain a constant and acceptable temperature in many of the areas. The planned rebuild will have a modern ventilation system that meets the required standards for heating and cooling. This will be supported by a new plant being added to the existing site.

The Government plans for and supports trusts with a wide range of risks, including severe weather conditions. Following the publication of the 2025 Health and Climate Adaptation Report, NHS England has published the NHS Climate Change Risk Assessment Tool and the Climate Adaptation Framework to support trusts in minimising climate-related risks to patients, staff, and services. The report, assessment tool, and framework are all available, respectively, at the following three links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/health-and-climate-adaptation-reports/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/climate-adaptation-resources/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/climate-adaptation-resources/

Climate change poses a growing risk to population health and to the National Health Service’s ability to deliver services, including through heatwaves, flooding, and other adverse weather events. Following the publication of the 2025 Health and Climate Adaptation Report, NHS England has published the NHS Climate Change Risk Assessment Tool and the Climate Adaptation Framework to support trusts in minimising climate-related risks to patients, staff, and services. The 2025 Health and Climate Adaptation Report, the NHS Climate Change Risk Assessment Tool, and the Climate Adaptation Framework are all available, respectively, at the following three links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/health-and-climate-adaptation-reports/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/climate-adaptation-resources/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/climate-adaptation-resources/

In addition, all NHS trusts have Green Plans, with adaptation planning strengthened in the 2025 Green Plan Guidance, and NHS organisations are required to have effective arrangements in place for adverse weather as part of the NHS Core Standards for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response. The 2025 Green Plan Guidance and the NHS Core Standards for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response are available at the following two links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/green-plan-guidance/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/emergency-preparedness-resilience-and-response-core-standards/

In November 2024, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided advice on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme for adults aged 80 years old and over. The Government continues to carefully consider the JCVI’s advice.

We are taking key steps to ensure the National Health Service is prepared for the colder months. This winter, approximately half a million more people were vaccinated against flu compared to the previous season, though we know there is further to go next winter. We are undertaking a comprehensive ‘lessons learned’ review to help us identify what worked well, where persistent pressures remain, and what actions we need to prioritise going into next winter.