Hospital horrors as patients died and others deteriorated during sweltering 44C heatwave

Hospital horrors as patients died and others deteriorated during sweltering 44C heatwave One nurse described the situation as "horrendous" and said patients were left "suffering more from the actual heat than the actual reason they are in hospital" Patients died — and nurses witnessed maggots in wounds — as temperatures hit 44C highs over the summer, hospital staff claim. Nurses reported seeing patients die and others deteriorate in what they have described as "suffocating atmospheres" due to the sweltering heat on NHS wards, a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey found. The concerning finds also include accounts of nurses witnessing cancer patients dripping with sweat during chemotherapy sessions with one claiming to have seen maggots in wounds. Record-breaking heat meant patients came to harm, according to the RCN. It has since called for more Government investment so hospitals can better cope in warm weather. The survey of 2,471 nursing staff during the summer heatwaves found high temperatures affected care, with examples of poorer outcomes for patients. One children's ward in Yorkshire reached a scorching 44C, according to one nurse, while another in the North West of England called the situation was "horrendous" with patients "suffering more from the actual heat than the actual reason they are in hospital." The damning claims come after nurses ended up fainting in swelteringly hot hospital wards which were condemned as "not fit for humans." Are you affected by this story? Contact [email protected] 'Maggots in his wounds' Campaigners and unions have slammed that there are no maximum temperature workplace temperatures, even though there is a minimum standard. It comes after Britain was hit by five heatwaves during a record-breaking summer which made work in hospitals more challenging. Another nurse said patients fainted, and other patients suffered dehydration, particularly older people. One common theme in the survey was the effect on people with heart failure and respiratory conditions, who seemed to fare worse because of the heat. A nurse in Wales said: "We had two frail patients for whom the extreme heat directly impacted their deaths. Whilst it was not the only cause, if you are in respiratory failure, the heat is a death sentence." A palliative care nurse working in a hospital in the South West of England said: "We had a palliative patient with chronic ulcers on the ward. In the hospital's care, during the last heatwave, the wounds festered enough that they attracted flies and were found to have maggots. Some of his and his relatives' last memories will be knowing of and, in his case feeling, maggots in his wounds." 'This feels like a safety concern' A nurse treating cancer patients in London said: "I've seen patients sweating and dripping due to the heat during chemotherapy. There is no air conditioning running in the unit. During one particularly hot period, patients were visibly sweating throughout their treatment. This feels like a safety concern, not just a comfort issue." Paramedics also spoke of "unbearable" shifts and crews being sent out in ambulances in stifling heat with faulty or no air conditioning. Multiple nurses also reported mental health patients becoming more challenging, leading to further assaults on staff. Some 74 per cent of those polled said they had little or no confidence that the Government was taking sufficient action to reduce the impact of climate change on the NHS and social care. Freedom of Information figures released earlier this month suggested more than 1,000 operations at NHS hospitals were cancelled because of the heat during record-breaking heatwaves in May and June. Tim Lane, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said surgeons reported extreme heat as well as old ventilation systems as making it more difficult to keep operating theatres open. He added: "When an operation is cancelled, patients face extra pain, anxiety and uncertainty as they wait for a new date. "Many will have already arranged time off work and care responsibilities. Cancellations also put further pressure on NHS services, with lost theatre time and delays that can affect waiting lists for months." Temperatures in the UK reached 35C during May, June, July and August, the first time this has happened. RCN chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "This testimony reveals the devastating impact of extreme heat on patients, with increased death, deterioration, and conditions in services which, frankly, are an assault on people's right to dignified, safe care. "The reality is that climate change is here, but long-term underinvestment in our health and care services has left them so unprepared. Staff did everything they could in record-breaking temperatures to keep patients safe and comfortable, but they were fighting a losing battle in buildings which often lack even the most basic cooling facilities. It's been incredibly traumatic. "We are all aware of the pressures that winter brings, but extreme heat is here to stay, and the clock is now ticking to accelerate investment in hospitals, care homes and other settings to ensure they are prepared. This summer was our warning. By next, we need everywhere to have effective cooling facilities in place, or patients will suffer shocking harm once again." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “These harrowing testimonies reinforce the importance of the action announced last week by the Health Secretary to prepare the NHS better for future heatwaves, as well as the tribute she paid to every nurse who continued delivering the highest standards of care this summer despite the pressures placed on them. “In her statement last week, the Health Secretary announced a significant package of funding to improve the safety of hospitals across the country, including an initial £32 million to improve cooling and ventilation systems and strengthen hospitals’ resilience to extreme heat. She also announced the launch of a new Heat Taskforce, which will future heatwave planning is placed on the same footing as planning for the pressures of winter.” [Image text:] Emergency Department(A&E)