Effect of the climate change on the UK

The UK is now experiencing some of the most extreme summer weather it has ever seen. Floods and torrential rain have hit many parts of the UK, and forecasts predict much more to come, including flash flooding in West England this week.

In view of the climate changes predicted for the United Kingdom, the government and NHS are planning ahead for the inevitable consequences this will have on the health of the nation. So what is in store for the UK if this state of affairs continues?

An updated report on the effects of climate change on UK health has recently been published by the department of Health. The report shows that the population is adapting well to the increasing temperatures that Britain has been experiencing since the 1970s.

One of the authors of the report, Professor Robert Maynard from the Health Protection Agency said, "The present scientific consensus is that the climate is changing and that human activity is contributing significantly to this. We have to prepare for the consequences and consider the possible health impacts. Some aspects are positive, for example there are likely to be fewer deaths due to cold weather, but others are potentially negative, including increases in food poisoning and dangers from both floods and droughts."

The Public Health Minister, Caroline Flint said, "One of the effects of climate change already encountered in this country is the increased frequency of heat-waves. The devastating heat-wave across Europe in 2003 led to us launching the National Heat-wave Plan in 2004, in which a Heat-Health Watch system operates in England during the summer months, with four levels of response and appropriate advice.

Work is being encouraged at a regional and local level to deal with the possible health effects of climate change. Key areas include adapting the health and social care infrastructure to be more resilient to the effects of heat, gales and floods, and developing local plans to cope with disasters. We are increasing awareness of how people can adapt to changes in climate.”

The main findings of the report include:

• 1 in 40 chance of a serious heat-wave in South East England by 2012.
  
• Periods of cold weather will become less common.
  
• Periods of hot weather will become increasingly common.
  
• Winter deaths will continue to decline.
  
• There is an increased risk of flooding.
  
• With the increasing exposure to sun and UV rays, there will be an increase in the prevalence of skin cancer.
  
• Tick borne diseases will become more common, but this is probably due to a change in land use and leisure activities.

Overall the British people are adapting well to the climate change, but as the rising temperature progresses, we will begin to see some negative impacts on health. The health service and the government are already implementing strategies to enable them to cope with the impact of these changes and to help them educate the general population of the potential problems.