Flooding could become ‘major public health issue’, professionals warn

New analysis has found 176 incidents of flooding between April 2021 and March 2022, disrupting patient care and damaging infrastructure.

Floodwaters outside a 999 call centre in Yorkshire, November 2019 (Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust/PA)

Flooding could become a “major public health issue”, professionals who are worried that climate change will bring more waterborne damage to NHS infrastructure have warned.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, there were 176 flooding incidents at NHS sites across the UK, according to research from the not-for-profit Round Our Way.

General acute hospitals – which provide inpatient medical care, surgery and services for acute medical conditions or injuries – bore the brunt of the damage.