Impacts of climate change on health and health services in northern New South Wales: an Evidence Check rapid review

Abstract

This rapid review investigated the effects of climate change on health and health services in northern NSW—a known ‘hotspot’ for natural disasters—over the next 10-20 years. It included 92 peer-reviewed articles and 9 grey literature documents, with 17% focused on Northern NSW. Climate change will cause both an increase in average temperatures and in extreme weather events and natural disasters. Impacts particularly affecting Northern NSW are expected to include increases and exacerbations of: mental illness; infectious diseases, including those transmitted by mosquitoes, water and food; heat-related illnesses; chronic diseases including respiratory and cardiac conditions; injuries; and mortality—with vulnerable groups being most affected. Demand for health services will increase, but there will also be disruptions to medication supply and service availability. A whole-of-system approach will be needed to address these issues. There are numerous gaps in the research evidence and a lack of predictive modelling and robust locally relevant data.