How the UK can better protect pregnant women from extreme heat
As the world heads towards 2°C+ of warming, rising temperatures are already increasing risks for pregnant women - including premature birth and low birth weight. Yet, as the Climate Change Committee highlights, the UK health system is not currently prepared to respond to the growing threats from extreme heat.
2-minute read
2-minute read
Our new report sets out practical, near-term actions the government can take, including:
- Recognising pregnancy consistently in policy, guidance and public communications on extreme heat.
- Ensuring maternity services are resilient to heat (e.g. cooler wards, clear clinical guidance for midwives and doctors)
Madeleine Thomson, Head of Climate Impacts & Adaptation, said:
“We are heading towards a 2°C+ world, and the UK has a responsibility to prepare for that reality now. Extreme heat is already increasing risks for pregnant women, including premature birth, and the Climate Change Committee has made clear that the UK health system is not currently equipped to respond to the growing threats from extreme heat.
“In response, we have identified practical steps the government can take now, from including measures to protect pregnant women in NHS guidance, to ensuring maternity wards stay safe in hot weather and equipping midwives with clear advice for pregnant women. These are changes that can make an immediate difference. The health impacts of climate change are already here, and acting now gives us a clear chance to better protect those most at risk.”
Read the full report here: https://wellcome.org/insights/reports/heat-and-pregnancy
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