The recent unprecedented heatwave has placed South West England’s ambulance service under extraordinary pressure, according to paramedics. On Friday, June 26, which marked both the peak of the heatwave and the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK, the South Western Ambulance Service experienced its busiest single day on record.
During a North Somerset Council health overview and scrutiny committee meeting, paramedics revealed that on June 26 alone they managed over 4,350 incidents—an all-time high driven largely by the “red” heat alert. They emphasized the immense strain this demand placed on their operations: “That placed an extensive amount of pressure on our service and that’s completely beyond anything we have ever experienced.”
Representatives of the ambulance service, speaking at the July 2 meeting, outlined plans to introduce “summer planning” strategies similar to the approaches traditionally used during winter spikes. With forecasts indicating periodic heatwaves over the coming months and an expected influx of 23 million visitors to the South West, the service is preparing to meet increasing demand in the warmer months.
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The heatwave saw record temperatures, with Merryfield hitting 36.7°C on June 25—the highest ever recorded in the UK for June—followed by an even higher temperature of 37.3°C in Suffolk the next day. While a new heatwave is anticipated soon, temperatures are not expected to surpass those records.
South Western Ambulance Service noted that this year’s heat differs in its intensity and frequency, with more extreme spikes rather than prolonged periods of heat. On their website, they flagged June 25 as the previous peak day with over 4,300 incidents attended.
Pete Brown, Director of Operations, urged the public to reserve 999 calls for genuine emergencies to allow ambulances to remain available for critical cases. He noted an increase in calls for non-life-threatening conditions such as sunburn, mild dehydration, or feeling overheated, which can often be managed at home or through NHS 111 online and local pharmacies.
Brown stressed the importance of using emergency services wisely: “999 should be used for serious medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties, suspected stroke, loss of consciousness, choking, severe allergic reactions, or catastrophic bleeding.”
He acknowledged that some patients are experiencing longer wait times due to unprecedented demand and requested that callers avoid repeat calls which can delay emergency response. Despite the challenges, paramedics are committed to providing safe care to everyone in need during these extreme conditions.