Nurses on heatwave hospitals – maggots, death, and patients dripping in sweat, tell me about this news in (https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/nurses-heatwave-hospitals-maggots-death-34634887)
18-09-2026
A survey conducted by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) revealed that patients in NHS hospitals suffered death, deterioration, and distress in suffocating atmospheres during the summer heatwaves.
Key details from the report include:
A palliative care nurse reported that a patient with chronic ulcers had wounds that festered and attracted flies, resulting in maggots being found in the wounds during a heatwave.
A cancer nurse described patients visibly dripping with sweat during chemotherapy treatments in unventilated units without air conditioning.
Nursing staff shared instances of children’s wards reaching 44C, frail patients passing away where extreme heat directly impacted their deaths, newborns suffering increased respiratory distress, and older patients facing severe dehydration and fainting.
Freedom of Information figures showed that over 1,000 operations were cancelled due to the heat during record-breaking temperatures.
The RCN highlighted that long-term underinvestment has left hospital buildings unequipped with basic cooling facilities, urging immediate government action and investment to better prepare healthcare settings for future extreme weather.