Dr Faisal Ali, a consultant dermatologist, said Mr Raab’s comments “risk underestimating the immediate risk of sunburn and the recognized long-term risk of life-threatening skin cancers”. Dr Ali added that Mr Raab could have given clearer advice, such as reapplying sunscreen every two to three hours, after swimming or washing, and avoiding the sun during peak hours. GP surgeries have closed or rescheduled appointments, while surgeries have stopped as hospital bosses warned extreme weather was making it difficult for essential services to run. Lord Victor Adebowale, chairman of the NHS Confederation, said hospitals and doctors’ surgeries were buying portable air conditioning units and fans for “inappropriate facilities”. Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: “Many NHS estates are exhausted and ill-equipped to cope with routine work, never mind the heatwave conditions.” Dr Charles Levinson, chief executive of Doctorcall, which provides private visiting doctor services, said it was “busier than ever as more patients are reluctant to leave their homes in the heat”. Paramedic bosses warned the conditions could lead to deaths, with Tracy Nicholls, chief executive of the College of Paramedics, telling Sky News: “It’s not like a lovely warm day where we can put on some sunblock, go out outside. and enjoy a swim and a meal outside. “This is serious heat that could eventually result in people dying because it is so fierce. We’re just not prepared for that kind of heat in this country.”
