More than 2,800 excess deaths of people aged 65 and over were recorded in England during this summer’s heatwaves, according to latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency.
Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people who died across all age groups during that time period was 6.2 per cent higher compared with the five-year average.
Cllr David Fothergill. Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “As these new statistics show, the most recent period of extreme heat represented a significant health risk to those who are older or have a health condition that places them at greater risk.
“These conditions include heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease or severe mental illness.
“The Met Office has predicted that hotter and drier summers could be likely to become more common as heat records are being broken more frequently, with all the challenges this brings to councils and the communities that we support.
“We must start to adapt to ensure our residents, our homes and buildings, and our local infrastructure can remain as resilient as possible to the threat of extreme weather.
“As well as this, the Government must work with councils and others to turbo-charge efforts to bring down carbon emissions and achieve our net zero targets, limiting further temperature increases in the future.”