New data from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) highlights concerns among a majority of doctors about the health impacts of climate change on their patients. While just a small minority think their workplace is prepared for extreme weather events.
Three in four (75.1%) doctors are worried about the impact of climate change on the health of their patients, new data from the Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP) has revealed.
The survey of RCP fellows and members also found that just 16% of responding doctors said they felt their workplace was very or somewhat prepared for extreme weather events, such as heatwaves or flooding.
These findings come as the Climate Change Committee wrote to the government this week warning the UK must prepare for ‘unprecedented’ extreme weather events due to at least 2C of global warming by 2050. The letter comes after provisional data from the Met Office revealed 2025 will likely be the hottest UK summer since records first began in 1886.
Extreme weather events place a huge strain on NHS services. With 90% of hospitals in England at risk of overheating, heatwaves in recent years have already led to cancelled operations, IT failures and increased emergency hospital admissions, all of which disrupt care and endanger vulnerable patients. The human cost of heatwaves can be substantial. In summer 2022, heatwaves were linked to an estimated 2,985 deaths.
The RCP is calling for urgent action to equip the NHS to adapt to climate-related events. This includes preparing staff and services to safeguard patients during extreme weather, while also strengthening systems to prevent disruption to care.
Dr Mark Harber, RCP special adviser on healthcare sustainability and climate change, said:
‘The hottest summer on record is not just an environmental milestone – it is a health emergency unfolding in real time.
‘The reality is the NHS cannot afford to treat climate change as a future problem. We are seeing its impact already and the NHS is simply not prepared for it.
‘The NHS must be supported to adapt to the effects of climate change. We urgently need investment in infrastructure, stronger workforce preparedness, and climate resilience built into every part of health and care. Otherwise, we risk our already stretched health service further overwhelmed by the impacts of climate change.’
Professor Mumtaz Patel, RCP president, said:
‘Our health service is already under extraordinary pressure. Rising demands and an overstretched workforce mean physicians are already working beyond their limits. Adding the growing health consequences of climate change to the mix, without proper planning, makes the system wholly unsustainable.
‘Physicians are doing everything they can for their patients, but the government must step up on adaptation with investment to tackle this issue, with clear planning and by providing practical support to ensure the NHS can meet the demands of today and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.’
The RCP, as a founding member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC), contributed to a recent UKHACC report on climate resilience in the NHS.
The RCP backs that UKHACC report’s calls for:
Enhanced workforce preparedness
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NHS organisations to establish support systems for healthcare workers during extreme weather events to maintain service continuity.
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NICE to provide clear guidance for clinicians on managing climate-related health risks and incorporating sustainability into clinical practice.
Investment in NHS infrastructure
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Government to allocate ring-fenced multi-year funding for climate adaptation initiatives and explore public-private partnerships to finance large-scale infrastructure upgrades.
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NHS organisations to conduct climate risk assessments for all facilities to identify vulnerabilities at the local level.
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NHS organisations to urgently undertake existing repairs required and retrofit existing healthcare buildings with climate-resilient features, including improved insulation, flood defences, and renewable energy systems.
Adequate planning
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NHS organisations to put in place climate change response plans that cover both emissions reductions and adaptation planning: ICS Green Plans in England, Climate Change Response plans in Wales, and Sustainability Plans in Scotland.
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Government to mandate the development of a Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) across each of the devolved nations, outlining specific strategies for the healthcare sector to respond to climate risks.
- The RCP’s second snapshot survey of 2025 was open from 2-14 June 2025.
- The survey was sent to 18,808 clinically active UK members and fellows via email. 490 responded to the question ‘are you concerned about the impacts of climate change on your patients’ health. 484 responded to the question ‘to what extent do you feel your workplace is prepared for extreme weather events such as heatwaves or flooding?’