# UK urged to prepare NHS for heatwaves as seriously as winter

The UK health secretary has called for the National Health Service to treat heatwaves with the same level of preparedness as winter surges. The warning highlights growing risks to public health from rising temperatures, which put extra pressure on hospitals and emergency services. This signals a potential shift in UK climate-health planning.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Health
- [BBC Health](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gke0dvgvvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:05:00 GMT