Last week saw temperatures soar as another heatwave swept across the UK. Dr Isobel Braithwaite, adviser to MEDACT, a public health charity, says the excessive temperatures are an “under recognised threat to the health of the vulnerable.” She said babies, young children and the elderly are most at risk especially those with heart, kidney and lung problems whose bodies are put under extra strain to stay cool.

She based her prediction of 2,000 deaths on scientific reports on the impact of heat on health in recent years.

In the heat wave of 2003, for example, there were 2,193 excess deaths linked to heat.

She said: “We need the Government to take action to protect the health of vulnerable people including ensuring housing regulations factor in the health risks from heat.”

Her comments were backed by a former clinical director of health forecasting at the Met Office who demanded an official list of people at high risk of fatal heat related health problems.

Dr William Bird, said: “Hundreds of extra deaths and preventable deaths are linked to spells of extremely hot weather and many happen within days.

“I am very worried this will get more common with global warming and vulnerable people are at risk of dying early.We need to ask should air conditioning be part of the NHS service, like putting in a stair lift or hand rails?” He said many buildings are potential death traps: “Buildings in this country are often designed to retain heat and many do not have good ventilation systems.

“A particular problem is those living on the mid and top floors in high rise flats.”

Last year nearly 800 excess deaths in England were linked to the 15-day peak of the heat wave during June and July.

Over the past three years – not including this – 2,549 deaths across England have been linked to hot weather.

Government experts predict the number of heat related deaths will triple to 7,000 a year by 2040.

David Critchley, Director of Colchester based Inn-House Technology, experts in air conditioning systems, said planning regulations in the country’s housing stock have traditionally overlooked heat: “We need to do more to get housing ready for hotter temperatures and help vulnerable people avoid risks. New buildings are well insulated and designed to retain heat. Building regulations need to be changed to to take high temperatures not just low temperatures into account.”

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