As extreme heat grips large parts of Australia, general practice once again finds itself on the frontline of community protection. Heatwaves are not just uncomfortable weather events. They are a predictable and escalating public health risk, with well-documented impacts on illness, hospitalisation and mortality.
For GPs and practice teams, this means heat can no longer be treated as a background issue or an occasional seasonal concern. It is a clinical risk factor that intersects directly with chronic disease management, medication safety, preventive care and health equity.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has warned against complacency as parts of the country experience some of the most severe heat conditions in years. For clinicians, the message is clear: current and future heatwaves demand the same level of planning and clinical attention as other recognised health threats.
Why vulnerable patients need extra support
General practice is uniquely positioned to identify patients at higher risk of heat-related illness. These include older people, infants and young children, pregnant or breastfeeding patients, people living with chronic disease, those experiencing social isolation, and patients whose medications or conditions impair thermoregulation or hydration.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright has highlighted that while older Australians are particularly vulnerable, risk extends well beyond age alone.
“Almost one third of hospitalisations relating to extreme heat occur in people aged 65 and over. Keep in mind though that it’s not only older patients who can experience severe health issues when temperatures rise. If someone cannot seek reprieve from soaring temperatures this can place an enormous strain on their body.”
During extreme heat, deterioration can occur rapidly. Dehydration can worsen cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions, while heat stress may trigger acute presentations that are often preventable with timely advice and planning.
For many patients, particularly those living alone or without reliable access to cooling, their GP practice remains the most trusted and accessible source of practical, personalised guidance.
Using the Primary Care Guide to Heat Health Management
The Primary Care Guide to Heat Health Management, developed by the RAGCP and the Queensland Government, provides a structured, practice-ready framework to help general practices manage heat risk effectively. Rather than treating heatwaves as isolated events, the Guide supports practices to embed heat health into routine clinical care and operational planning.
Key areas of focus include:
Identifying at-risk patients using clinical records, chronic disease registers and medication reviews.
Integrating heat considerations into care plans, particularly for patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory illness or renal impairment.
Supporting practice teams by ensuring access to hydration, safe working conditions and clear internal protocols during periods of extreme heat.
Importantly, the Guide encourages a whole-of-practice approach. Protecting patients during heatwaves also means protecting the staff delivering their care.
Turning guidance into everyday clinical action
In practice, small and consistent interventions can make a meaningful difference. These include:
Proactive patient education, reinforcing hydration, cooling strategies and avoidance of peak heat exposure.
Medication awareness, particularly for drugs that increase dehydration risk or impair heat tolerance.
Planned check-ins with high-risk or socially isolated patients during heat events.
Clear escalation advice so patients recognise early signs of heat exhaustion and know when to seek urgent care.
These actions are low-cost, time-efficient and well within the scope of routine general practice. Yet collectively, they can prevent serious harm and reduce avoidable pressure on emergency departments and hospitals.
The takeaway for practice leaders
Extreme heat is no longer an occasional seasonal inconvenience. It is a recurring clinical risk that intersects with chronic disease management, preventive care and equity of access.
By treating heatwaves as a core primary care issue and using tools such as the Primary Care Guide to Heat Health Management, general practices can better support vulnerable patients, protect their teams and reduce avoidable illness.
As temperatures continue to rise, the role of general practice is clear: anticipate risk, act early, and ensure no patient is left to cope with extreme heat alone.
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