Success and limiting factors:
In relation to the plan implementation the following success factors can be mentioned:
- The heatwave plan considers and informs other relevant frameworks and strategies, like the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF), Joint Strategic Needs Assignments (JSNAs) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies (JHWSs). This helps to align adaptation measures with technically related strategies and improve performance through synergies (exchange subject matter know-how and evidence, ensure convergence of measures, etc.)
- The plan both supports and relies on local to regional agents, notably the LRF but also Local Health Resilience Partnerships, public health directors as local agenda-setters, or Local Health and Wellbeing Boards. This ensures swift and locally adequate response and cooperation among responders of administratively distinct forces.
- 2016 update; this has not introduced changes to 2015 version that therefore it is the one still valid). This protects against outdated or insufficient response schemes as evidence and know-how continuously evolves during implementation.
Budget, funding and additional benefits:
Adaptation to future warming, including prolonged peak temperature, highly benefits from the provision of subject-matter forecasting and alert chains. These deliver specific information to local multi-agency responders who can then prevent or at least minimise the costs (last not least concerning healthcare staff and facilities) otherwise incurred through lack of information or preparation. Note that local resilience forums – though implemented independently from the heatwave plan – promise a very useful concept for the implementation of cross-sectoral adaptation and disaster risk reduction, too.