NHS flooding incidents up 40% as climate change hits hospitals

NHS staff have dealt with a rising number of flood incidents across the nation's hospitals, data has revealed. There were 391 flood occurrences triggering a risk assessment in 2024/25, up 9.2% on the previous year.

This compares to 278 flood occurrences in 2022/23, an analysis of NHS's yearly estates returns information collection data showed. Roger Harding, co-director of Round Our Way, a not-for-profit that works with people affected by climate change in the UK, said: "Floods increasingly have a devastating impact on people's lives here in the UK, with a significant increase in the number of NHS flooding incidents recorded in the NHS.

"Just yesterday, the Climate Change Committee concluded that we are already unprepared for the impact of climate change, today's NHS data underlines that message. We all need to look out for those in our lives vulnerable to flooding, and the government needs to ensure our health service and care homes are better prepared. We also need to cut the pollution that makes floods and heatwaves more likely to stop these worrying numbers going up and up."

Patients have also been missing out on vital treatment because of the disruption caused by flooding.

Dr Munro Stewart, a GP in inner-city Dundee said many NHS sites, including GP surgeries and hospitals, have become filled with water during heavy rainfall.

He said: "Many more are at risk of flooding in the coming years. Much more NHS flooding is simply inevitable. What does not help is that we have a lot of outdated infrastructure where there has not been enough investment in maintenance, even without the climate change threat.

"Investment is very urgently needed in NHS premises, with a focus on quality and resilience, if staff are to work effectively, or we will see more services suspended".

He said there are an increasing number of patients in his region who have suffered in storms and floods, some of them even losing their homes.

He added: "This widens health inequalities further, and often carries a long-term significant mental health impact. We will increasingly see our communities and already stretched public services further pushed by climate change impacts.

"Floods have major knock-on effects for society, including for overburdened NHS staff.

"I can't imagine what it is like for my colleagues who have turned up at work, to have to deal with inches of water on the floor, sewage coming up through the toilet, a leaking roof and ruined equipment."