My Lords, extreme heat does pose a serious risk to NHS buildings and services. All NHS organisations are required to have effective arrangements in place for adverse weather. We are supporting trusts to target the most critical estates risks with £6.75 billion over nine years, including risks that need to be dealt with in respect of cooling and ventilation; and we are ensuring that new hospitals and new-build neighbourhood health centres have climate resilience embedded in their design from the outset.

My Lords, extreme heat does pose a serious risk to NHS buildings and services. All NHS organisations are required to have effective arrangements in place for adverse weather. We are supporting trusts to target the most critical estates risks with £6.75 billion over nine years, including risks that need to be dealt with in respect of cooling and ventilation; and we are ensuring that new hospitals and new-build neighbourhood health centres have climate resilience embedded in their design from the outset.

The Government are indeed providing trusts with substantial investment—I mentioned just some of it—in these measures, and that is very much in line with the Government’s net-zero ambitions and intent. We are investing £155 million in solar projects and £400 million in heat decarbonisation grants across the NHS. I emphasise that, looking forward, all NHS new builds and major upgrades will align with the net-zero building standard.

The Government are indeed providing trusts with substantial investment—I mentioned just some of it—in these measures, and that is very much in line with the Government’s net-zero ambitions and intent. We are investing £155 million in solar projects and £400 million in heat decarbonisation grants across the NHS. I emphasise that, looking forward, all NHS new builds and major upgrades will align with the net-zero building standard.

Yes indeed, and I go back to my point about the £6.75 billion estates safety fund, the whole intention of which is to target the most serious risks, such as those the noble Baroness refers to. Vital projects will attract that funding. They include overheating risks such as broken chillers, outdated air-handling units and, if needed, refrigeration—in other words, where there is a need for urgent upgrades.

Yes indeed, and I go back to my point about the £6.75 billion estates safety fund, the whole intention of which is to target the most serious risks, such as those the noble Baroness refers to. Vital projects will attract that funding. They include overheating risks such as broken chillers, outdated air-handling units and, if needed, refrigeration—in other words, where there is a need for urgent upgrades.

My noble friend raises an important point. It is important to note that extreme heat particularly affects buildings with poor insulation and limited natural ventilation, which, by their very nature—I am describing many health settings—heavily rely on such measures if there is heat-generating equipment like imaging suites and IT systems. Also, 11% of buildings in the NHS estate are older than the NHS itself, which gives some sense of the scale. We have committed £10.5 million in research funding to develop effective cooling solutions that can be used across the

whole system. It may well be that the organisation to which my noble friend refers is part of that, but I will take his suggestion back to the department.

My noble friend raises an important point. It is important to note that extreme heat particularly affects buildings with poor insulation and limited natural ventilation, which, by their very nature—I am describing many health settings—heavily rely on such measures if there is heat-generating equipment like imaging suites and IT systems. Also, 11% of buildings in the NHS estate are older than the NHS itself, which gives some sense of the scale. We have committed £10.5 million in research funding to develop effective cooling solutions that can be used across the

whole system. It may well be that the organisation to which my noble friend refers is part of that, but I will take his suggestion back to the department.

We are already investing some £30 billion of capital across the NHS estate. I have mentioned the most serious infrastructure risks, which the noble Lord rightly refers to. While we accept the age of the estate and its size—I noted in preparing for this Question that we are talking about the equivalent of 4,000 football pitches—we also have a backlog of maintenance issues, which have grown and grown. We estimate that some £15.9 billion is needed. While there are no easy solutions, we do have a resilience plan not just for overheating but for all threats to resilience arising from temperature. We are also providing the funding—although, to the point the noble Lord makes, it is down to local decision-making—and ensuring that we are assisting the estate across the country to meet the challenges, the priority being those areas that need it most.

We are already investing some £30 billion of capital across the NHS estate. I have mentioned the most serious infrastructure risks, which the noble Lord rightly refers to. While we accept the age of the estate and its size—I noted in preparing for this Question that we are talking about the equivalent of 4,000 football pitches—we also have a backlog of maintenance issues, which have grown and grown. We estimate that some £15.9 billion is needed. While there are no easy solutions, we do have a resilience plan not just for overheating but for all threats to resilience arising from temperature. We are also providing the funding—although, to the point the noble Lord makes, it is down to local decision-making—and ensuring that we are assisting the estate across the country to meet the challenges, the priority being those areas that need it most.

The recent heat health alert was the first alert since July 2022. Importantly, the UK Health Security Agency has updated its weather health alert system in order that action can be taken and preparations put in place. It has also expanded its guidance, communications and the training of staff across the health and social care sector, so they can better deal with the challenges.

The recent heat health alert was the first alert since July 2022. Importantly, the UK Health Security Agency has updated its weather health alert system in order that action can be taken and preparations put in place. It has also expanded its guidance, communications and the training of staff across the health and social care sector, so they can better deal with the challenges.

Clearly it is a different situation, in terms not of climate but of the estate. I know the noble Lord is aware of this, but it is worth pointing out that the social care sector is rather more fragmented and includes the private sector. However, for social care, advice is available about what measures to put in place, along with training.

Clearly it is a different situation, in terms not of climate but of the estate. I know the noble Lord is aware of this, but it is worth pointing out that the social care sector is rather more fragmented and includes the private sector. However, for social care, advice is available about what measures to put in place, along with training.

I acknowledge the push my noble friend is making. She will understand that the decision she asked me to comment on is not one for my department, but I will certainly draw it to the attention of the appropriate ministerial colleague.

I acknowledge the push my noble friend is making. She will understand that the decision she asked me to comment on is not one for my department, but I will certainly draw it to the attention of the appropriate ministerial colleague.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of NHS infrastructure to extreme heat; and what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS buildings are adequately equipped to withstand prolonged periods of extreme heat.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of NHS infrastructure to extreme heat; and what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS buildings are adequately equipped to withstand prolonged periods of extreme heat.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the percentage uptake of flu vaccines in children in each region of England; and what is their target uptake for children this winter.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the percentage uptake of flu vaccines in children in each region of England; and what is their target uptake for children this winter.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the results of the "war game" exercise carried out as part of the NHS's winter preparations.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the results of the "war game" exercise carried out as part of the NHS's winter preparations.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory syncytial virus infection, such as those with pre-existing conditions or children who were born prematurely, are protected ahead of winter.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory syncytial virus infection, such as those with pre-existing conditions or children who were born prematurely, are protected ahead of winter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has commissioned research into the potential effects on health of low levels of sunlight in the UK relative to such levels in other countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has commissioned research into the potential effects on health of low levels of sunlight in the UK relative to such levels in other countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of excess deaths resulting from the current cold weather; and whether he has estimated the number of excess deaths attributable to non-delivery of heating fuels because of climatic conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of excess deaths resulting from the current cold weather; and whether he has estimated the number of excess deaths attributable to non-delivery of heating fuels because of climatic conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of excess deaths attributable to cold weather in January 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of excess deaths attributable to cold weather in January 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) between 16 and 18, (c) between 19 and 65 and (d) over 65 years old were admitted to hospital in each strategic health authority with a primary or secondary cause of admission listed as...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) between 16 and 18, (c) between 19 and 65 and (d) over 65 years old were admitted to hospital in each strategic health authority with a primary or secondary cause of admission listed as...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the number of deaths caused by excessive heat in developed countries which regularly experience summer temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the number of deaths caused by excessive heat in developed countries which regularly experience summer temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2009, Official Report, column 404W, on weather, what the costs were of (a) revising each of the three web-based documents and (b) printing and posting the leaflet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2009, Official Report, column 404W, on weather, what the costs were of (a) revising each of the three web-based documents and (b) printing and posting the leaflet.