One of Switzerland’s largest hospitals is facing growing criticism after reports revealed that elderly and vulnerable patients are being treated in excessively hot conditions during the summer.
Older sections of the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), where air conditioning is unavailable and ventilation is limited, have reportedly recorded indoor temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius.
The conditions have sparked concerns about both patient welfare and staff wellbeing as healthcare workers continue to carry out their duties in the intense heat.
Healthcare Workers Warn of Risks to Patients
The situation has prompted the healthcare workers’ union to raise the alarm, arguing that prolonged exposure to high temperatures is leaving medical staff exhausted and increasing the risk of mistakes in patient care.
Union representatives say the extreme working environment is becoming unsustainable and could ultimately compromise patient safety.
In response, employees are expected to stage a protest at HUG’s Trois-Chêne Hospital, calling for urgent action to improve conditions inside the facility.
Europe Approves Stronger Air Passenger Protections
In separate developments, the European Parliament has approved sweeping reforms designed to strengthen the rights of airline passengers across Europe.
Although existing legislation already offers travelers certain protections, many passengers have continued to face difficulties when seeking refunds or compensation from airlines.
The newly approved rules aim to simplify those processes while giving travelers greater transparency over ticket prices, reservation changes, rebooking options and seat selection.
Swiss Travelers Set to Benefit From New Rules
While Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, the country is expected to implement the updated passenger rights framework from 2027.
The changes will apply to Swiss-based carriers, including SWISS, Edelweiss, Helvetic and Chair Airlines, providing passengers with clearer information and stronger protections when booking and managing flights.
Campaign Grows to Restore Lausanne-Paris Rail Service
Support is also building for the return of a discontinued international train connection linking Switzerland and France.
A petition calling for the reinstatement of the fourth daily TGV Lyria service between Lausanne and Paris via Vallorbe has now attracted more than 10,000 signatures.
Campaigners argue that the strong public response demonstrates growing demand for improved cross-border rail travel.
The route was removed in 2019 after TGV Lyria shifted more services to operate through Geneva instead.
House Prices Continue to Surge in Western Switzerland
Meanwhile, the housing market in French-speaking Switzerland is outpacing the rest of the country, with detached home prices climbing at a significantly faster rate.
New figures from Raiffeisen Bank show that prices for single-family homes in the region increased by 6.3 percent compared with the same period last year.
By contrast, similar properties in Central and Northwestern Switzerland recorded gains of around 3 percent.
Analysts attribute much of the sharp rise to the limited availability of land around the Lake Geneva region, where demand continues to outstrip supply.
