Re: NHS summer situation report: Amid “twin crisis” with winter, how did the health service cope in 2026’s heatwaves?

Dear Editor

Gareth Iacobucci’s report describes how UK health services struggled to cope with the hottest summer on record.

To my eye the infographics accompanying his article show an underlying gradual proportionate increase in demand on the NHS over the past 5 years unrelated to climatic conditions (with the exception of predictable heatstroke and sunburn A&E attendances).

This presumably reflects either an increasingly unhealthy population or increased health-seeking behaviour of the general public.