French hospitals ill-equipped for another heatwave

French hospitals are poorly prepared for another heatwave, facing significant challenges in providing adequate care during extreme temperatures. The June heatwave severely tested the resilience of French hospitals, their staff, and patients.

Few homes, schools, and hospitals in France are equipped with air conditioning, leaving them vulnerable to high temperatures. Scientists warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, exacerbating the strain on healthcare infrastructure.

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We are not ready.

Healthcare workers described the ordeal with distress. "We are not ready," said one hospital worker, recounting the exhaustion and difficulty in caring for patients during the peak of the heat. Some staff members were reportedly in tears, forced to decide which patients received the limited number of fans or portable cooling units available.

Conditions were dire in some areas, with children on hospital wards sleeping on the floor in hopes of finding cooler air. Even tap water was sometimes lukewarm or hot. Many hospitals are already operating with significant deficits and outdated infrastructure, compounded by long-standing staff shortages, making them ill-equipped to manage the added stress of heatwaves.

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Some staff members were in tears, forced to decide which patients received the few fans or portable cooling units available.