“Scorcher Season: Heatwaves Challenge GPs Across Australia”
28 Jan 2026
Record temperatures, heat warnings, and intense media coverage have brought the dangers of heatwaves into the spotlight. But according to Dr Nicole Sleeman, RACGP Chair of Specific Interests in Climate and Environmental Medicine, it’s the everyday heat events—not just the headline-grabbing extremes—that cause the most strain on health services.
“Many of the patients we see in general practice are at high risk of heat-related illness, yet they often don’t realise it,” Dr Sleeman told newsGP.
Dr Sleeman has been actively raising awareness about heat-related health risks, including through Extreme Heat Awareness Day on 4 February, organised by the advocacy group Sweltering Cities. She and colleagues hope to highlight heat as a serious public health issue.
Federal MP Dr Monique Ryan has also called for heatwaves to be named, similar to tropical storms, to draw attention to their deadly impact. Dr Sleeman supports the idea but warns that naming only extreme events could overlook low-intensity heatwaves that cause a significant health burden.
Data from the Queensland Ambulance Service between 2010 and 2019 showed ambulance call-outs rose by 12.7% during heatwaves, with smaller, less intense heatwaves driving a bigger jump of 22.2%.“People often underestimate their risk until the heat is extreme or widely reported,” Dr Sleeman said.
She stresses that general practice plays a key role in building heat resilience. “Personalised conversations about heat risk, cooling strategies, and individual heat action plans help people respond effectively and build community resilience,” she said.
Tools like Heat Watch, a web app from Sydney University, allow users to calculate their personal heat risk and access evidence-based cooling strategies. While not perfect, Dr Sleeman says these tools can help GPs guide their communities on staying safe in the heat.
More resources for GPs on climate change and health are available via the RACGP website.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: newsGP