NHS website sees surge in traffic as Brits search for heatwave advice
Beachgoers enjoy the hot weather at Flamborough’s North Landing beach on May 26, 2026 (Getty)
NHS web pages experienced a significant surge in traffic as the public sought advice on navigating record-breaking hot weather across England and Wales.
Tuesday marked the hottest May day on record for both England and Wales, with Kew Gardens provisionally registering 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9C.
Visits to NHS heatstroke advice pages dramatically increased, with 20,092 hits on bank holiday Monday, while parents seeking baby safety advice saw a 3,500 per cent rise.
Health officials extended amber heat health alerts for several regions until Thursday, emphasising the vulnerability of older individuals, babies, and those with long-term conditions to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Multiple fatalities occurred in open water across various locations during the heatwave, prompting the RNLI to warn of the dangers of cold water shock despite high air temperatures.
