Gwent’s health board plans to use lessons from the recent heatwave to improve its response to “extreme weather” incidents in future.

A critical incident was declared at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in late June, during a prolonged period of temperatures above 30C.

A new report shows the heatwave had a direct impact on several areas of emergency care, including ambulance handover times and a four-hour wait target in A&E.

The weather, coupled with “exceptionally high” walk-in demand, led to the Grange University Hospital’s emergency department recording its lowest-ever performance rate against the four-hour target.

There was also “severe disruption” in the health board’s diagnostic services and operating theatres, with temporary cancellations of some procedures.

The critical incident ran from June 23 to July 2, and services have “returned to normal”, a health board spokesperson said.

But ongoing warm weather means there is still “significant pressure on health services locally and across the NHS nationally”.

The spokesperson said demand remains high in both the health board’s hospitals and its community services, with staff working “tirelessly to provide high quality, patient-centred care and support to those who need it”.

“We would like to thank our staff, patients, partners and local communities for their continued support,” they added.

Since the June heatwave, the health board has also taken part in a Wales-wide NHS “debrief” on the heatwave.

“The session provided an opportunity to review the response to the extreme weather, including what worked well, areas where challenges were experienced, and lessons that can be learned to strengthen future planning and resilience,” the spokesperson said.