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Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on June 20, 2009
Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdp059
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© The Author 2009, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Health and social care responses to the Department of Health Heatwave Plan{dagger}


Vanessa Abrahamson, Research Assistant
Rosalind Raine, Professor of Health Services Research

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1–19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK


Address correspondence to Vanessa Abrahamson, Vanessa.abrahamson{at}canterbury.ac.uk


  Abstract

Background The increasing risk of heatwaves in England poses a particular threat to the health of elderly people. A National Heatwave Plan has been produced to ensure that adaptation plans are established. The objective was to explore the perceptions of frontline statutory and voluntary sector staff on the feasibility of implementing the Heatwave Plan for elderly people in the community.

Methods Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 109 health, social care and voluntary staff from three London Boroughs.

Results Few frontline staff were aware of the Plan. Most respondents did not perceive heatwaves to be a sufficiently frequent event to require prioritization within their routine summer workloads. They highlighted the complexities associated with defining vulnerability and identifying vulnerable individuals as well as barriers to implementation of the Plan. Respondents suggested a multi-faceted approach to interventions including a public health campaign, community engagement and increasing the responsiveness of statutory services.

Conclusion The issues highlighted could hinder effective implementation of the Heatwave Plan. Ensuring continuity of care so that timely information can be recorded and disseminated may address the problems associated with shifting vulnerability. Best practice with respect to inter-sectoral collaboration should be identified and innovative multi-faceted interventions should be designed and evaluated.

Keywords: health protection, health risks, heatwaves, knowledge, perceptions

{dagger} This project was approved by The Joint UCL/UCLH Committees on the Ethics of Human Research, Committee Alpha (08/H0715/60) and by institutional research ethics committees of University College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.


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