The impacts of flooding are not experienced equally, with disadvantaged and low-income households, as well as individuals with medical conditions or disabilities, being hit the hardest.
The UK’s healthcare infrastructure is also at risk of flooding, with approximately 10% of hospitals located in high flood-risk areas.
According to the UK’s Environment Agency in 2024, 25.5% of the healthcare facilities in England are at risk of flooding and this is projected to rise to 31.5% by 2040-60. In England, 495 emergency services, 2,474 GP surgeries, and 2,187 care homes are vulnerable, while in Wales, 51 GP practices, 16 hospitals, and 81 emergency service locations face similar risks. In Scotland, over 400 health and social care facilities are at risk of frequent flooding, a number expected to rise even if global warming remains below 2°C. No data for Northern Ireland could be found. The impact of flooding on healthcare services is already evident. Between April 2021 and March 2022, NHS England sites reported 176 flooding incidents, primarily in general acute hospitals, with the East of England and London being the most affected regions. In Scotland, severe flooding in Perthshire left patients cut off from healthcare for a week. An individual working in primary care in Wales reported a 25% increase in appointment calls following the 2020 floods, partly due to patients being unable to access the surgery during the event. With flood risk to healthcare facilities projected to grow, there is an urgent need for adaptation measures.