Suffolk expert warns hotter summers are becoming a health risk
It follows the hottest June on record, with high temperatures expected to continue
As England records its warmest June on record, a Suffolk health expert is warning that the county must start adapting to hotter summers, with extreme heat affecting everything from sleep and schools to vulnerable people's health.
Professor Valerie Gladwell, Director of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Suffolk, said the recent heatwave exposed just how difficult prolonged high temperatures can be for people across the county.
Her comments come after the Met Office confirmed England experienced its hottest June since records began in 1884, while the UK recorded its second warmest June on record. The month ended with an exceptional heatwave which saw Suffolk record one of the highest temperatures anywhere in the UK.
Professor Gladwell said the biggest concern isn't just high daytime temperatures, but the impact of hot nights.
"Sleeping wasn't great either, and we know how important sleep is for our health," she told us.
"It makes it really challenging because then you're going into the next day feeling tired, probably dehydrated."
Risk to vulnerable people
She said older people, young children and those living with long-term health conditions are particularly vulnerable because they struggle to regulate their body temperature.
"They all struggle to regulate their temperature and particularly last week it was very difficult to regulate the temperature," she said.
"Those things are even more challenging to meet and make sure you're staying hydrated and well fuelled."
The Met Office said June's exceptional warmth was driven by an intense late-month heatwave, with record overnight temperatures helping England record its warmest June on record, woth more heatwaves expected.
Professor Gladwell said poor sleep caused by high overnight temperatures can have consequences beyond simply feeling tired.
"If we don't sleep properly, then we can't recover from what's happened the day before," she said.
"Poor sleep can lead into lots of long-term health conditions... because your body's just not able to recover."
She urged people to check on vulnerable neighbours during periods of extreme heat, just as they would during severe winter weather.
"I think it's really important that we keep an eye on older people, just like we do in winter," she said.
"We should be checking on those who are more vulnerable."
Professor Gladwell also warned that schools and buildings across the UK are not designed for prolonged periods of extreme heat.
"I think one of the biggest things we had in the last heatwave was about schools. Schools are not set up at all to be able to cope," she said.
"There were quite a few children who maybe weren't at school because it was just too hot in those classrooms."
Changes needed to cope with extreme weather
Looking ahead, she believes adapting buildings will become increasingly important.
"We need to be thinking infrastructure-wise what are we going to do to really support this," she said.
"It's not necessarily a quick fix."
The Met Office says the first six months of 2026 have continued a broader pattern of unusually warm conditions, with five months recording temperatures at least one degree above average.
Its Chief Scientist, Professor Stephen Belcher, said human-induced climate change is making heatwaves more likely and more intense, warning they pose increasing risks to health, transport, energy and water supplies.
Professor Gladwell said while adapting to hotter weather will take time, there are simple steps people can take now.
"I think it's just keep an eye out for each other," she said.
"Keep connecting, communicating with each other and supporting each othe