Malfunctioning Air Conditioning Units Pose Issues in Hospitals, According to Report
In the midst of a persistent heat wave, temperatures in Germany are set to soar, reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius, according to the German Weather Service. This weather phenomenon is putting both patients and staff in hospitals and nursing homes under strain.
The lack of air conditioning and effective cooling systems in these facilities is a long-standing issue, stemming from a decade-long investment backlog. This problem has not gone unnoticed, with the German Foundation for Patient Protection expressing dissatisfaction about heat protection in hospitals and nursing homes.
The foundation's statement highlights the potential financial constraints in implementing effective heat protection measures. According to Eugen Brysch, a board member of the foundation, heat protection plans often end where patient safety costs money.
To address this issue, the healthcare industry is calling for substantial investment and policy measures to improve heat protection for patients and staff. The German Hospital Federation (DKG) has requested a multi-year investment programme of 31 billion euros aimed at making healthcare institutions more climate resilient, including upgrading hospitals with cooling systems since most currently lack effective air conditioning.
Advocacy groups, such as the German Foundation for Patient Protection, urge the German health and environment ministers to commit to binding investment plans for retrofitting hospitals and nursing homes with cooling facilities before the end of 2025.
Experts warn that many hospitals and care facilities do not have air conditioning due primarily to inadequate funding and rising demand driven by increasing heat wave frequency and intensity caused by climate change.
In 2023, Germany introduced a government heat action plan focused on preventing heat-related mortality. However, implementation of physical infrastructure improvements like air conditioning remains a critical next step. Regulatory context and EU climate goals encourage adoption of cooling technologies that are energy-efficient and low in greenhouse gas emissions, such as heat pumps without harmful refrigerants, to balance climate policy with increasing cooling needs in public buildings, including hospitals.
Currently, hospitals are using less effective measures such as shading and fans to alleviate the heat. However, these measures may not be sufficient to protect the over 300,000 hospital patients and 800,000 nursing home residents, particularly during the peak of the heat wave, predicted to be in the middle of the week with temperatures ranging from 31 to 38 degrees Celsius.
The German Weather Service's prediction suggests that the heat wave will continue for several more days, increasing the strain on hospital and nursing home resources. Brysch commented on the predicted temperatures, stating that difficult days lie ahead. He also criticised the federal government and states for not taking heat protection seriously in the 1,600 clinics and 12,000 nursing homes.
The vice-chair of the German Hospital Association (DKG), Henriette Neumeyer, echoed Brysch's concerns, stating that most clinics in Germany do not have air conditioning or effective cooling systems. The urgent need for funding commitments to accelerate the installation of climate-resilient heat protection, including air conditioning, in healthcare buildings has been emphasised.
[1] Source: German Hospital Federation (DKG) press release, 2023. [2] Source: German Foundation for Patient Protection statement, 2023. [3] Source: European Commission climate goals, 2021.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection and the German Hospital Federation have raised concerns about the lack of effective cooling systems in hospitals and nursing homes, particularly during heat waves, due to funding constraints and rising demands caused by climate change. [1] [2]
The urgency to invest in climate-resilient heat protection, including air conditioning, in healthcare buildings is emphasized, as over 300,000 hospital patients and 800,000 nursing home residents may be at risk during heat waves, with temperatures predicted to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius. [1] [2]
