Stakeholders’ perception on national heatwave plans and their local implementation in Belgium and The Netherlands

This study presents the perceptions of key stakeholders within heatwave plans in Belgium and The Netherlands on their responsibilities, the partnerships, and the effectiveness of the local implementation in Brussels and Amsterdam. National heatwave plans are aimed at reducing the avoidable human health consequences due to heatwaves, by providing warnings as well as improving communication between relevant stakeholders. Key stakeholders include those with an important role in the development of the heatwave plan in these countries, or its implementation in Brussels or Amsterdam, including care organisations such as hospitals and elderly care organisations.

The authors recommend the following:

• increase awareness on the impact of heat on health;
• conduct quantifiable study to obtain clarity in the perception of general practitioners and child care centres on risk messages;
• give more emphasis on the variety of heat-risk groups (socially isolated individuals) and how to reach them;
• clarify the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders within the plans, ensured by involving them in planning; and
• share best practices and lessons learnt which could help in more harmonised and higher quality plans.