Hot weather significantly increases illness, hospital admissions, and mortality, with over 1,500 heat-related deaths estimated in summer 2025.
Risk is particularly high in London.
GP practices play a critical role in reducing harm through early identification, patient advice, and proactive care, helping to maintain service resilience.
Those at greatest risk include:
- older adults (especially frail or immobile)
- infants and young children
- pregnant people
- individuals with long-term conditions such as respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, or mental health conditions
- patients taking certain medications (e.g. diuretics, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs, SGLT2 inhibitors, lithium)
- social vulnerability increases risk, including people who are homeless, substance dependent, or unable to adapt their living environment (e.g. top-floor flats).
These groups are most vulnerable, as they have the reduced ability to regulate temperature, higher dehydration risk, medication effects, and limited capacity to stay cool or recognise symptoms all contribute.
Key actions for GP practices
- Sign up to Heat-Health alerts to enable early planning, staff briefing, and prioritisation of high-risk patients.
- Ensure staff awareness of at-risk groups, early symptoms (e.g. dizziness, confusion, dehydration), and appropriate advice.
- Provide clear patient messaging, especially to vulnerable groups: stay hydrated, keep cool, avoid peak heat, and seek help early.
Further information is available in the download.
