Hospital appointments postponed due to heatwave

Hospital operating theatres, testing labs and MRI scanners are being affected by the extreme temperatures, an NHS trust has said.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which runs Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford, said those services were "unable to operate at normal capacity in the heat and humidity".

Some outpatient appointments were being postponed and rescheduled, said chief operating officer Katy Thorpe.

Urgent and emergency patients were being prioritised, she added.

The temperatures were affecting "a number of our MRI scanners and theatres," she said.

"Pathology services are also disrupted, with appointments at Bradwell, Bentilee and Meir being rearranged to take place at alternative locations to maintain safe and effective service delivery."

Thorpe said patients whose appointments had been affected would be contacted directly.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience and understanding," she added.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said doctors had described severe, unsustainable pressure on the workforce, with very few settings having air conditioning, and staff "really struggling".

Dr Hilary Williams, RCP clinical vice-president, said: "This week, physician colleagues across the country have told us the significant impact the heat is having on them, their patients and their teams.

"The impact of heatwaves on staff cannot be overstated. There is a sense of foreboding when we see the weather forecast, because we know what is to come, and there is very little staff can do."

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