Amber heat health alert issued for England with ‘rise in deaths likely’

UKHSA has issued the amber heat-health alert for the entire country from 12pm Thursday to 9am Monday

A rare amber heat-health alert has been issued for the whole of England, with officials warning soaring temperatures mean a ‘likely rise in deaths’ among vulnerable people.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the amber heat-health alert for the entire country from 12pm Thursday to 9am Monday.

The alert is the second highest, behind red, on the UKHSA’s system, and agency has warned of the possible impacts on health and social services.

The UKHSA’s weather health alert system provides early warning to the health and social care sector when adverse temperatures are likely to impact the health and well-being of the population.

It previously had a yellow heat health warning in place, but it was upgraded to amber on Thursday.

Temperatures are expected to reach 31C on Thursday and Friday, before peaking at 33C on Saturday, with temperatures also set to be in the low 30s on Sunday, the Met Office said.

An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.

The alert is the second highest, behind red, on the UKHSA’s system, and it warned of the possible impacts on health services (UKHSA)

All regions in England have been given a risk score of 12 out of 16, meaning there will be “significant impacts across health and social care services” due to the high temperatures.

The UKHSA warned high temperatures could cause a rise in deaths, particularly among those over 65 or with health conditions.

Younger age groups may also be affected, it said.

It also warned that there will likely be an increase in demand for health services, and indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people.

There may also be issues managing medicines and an increased demand for power exceeding capacity, the UKHSA said.

(PA Graphics) (PA Graphics)

Many charities have also issued warnings as the hotter weather continues this week.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is encouraging people with heart conditions to take precautions to minimise potential health risks during a heatwave.

Meanwhile, Age UK has urged people to check in on older relatives, friends, and neighbours to see if they need anything and to make sure they are not feeling overwhelmed by the excessive heat.

And Dementia UK has issued advice and tips on how to support a loved one with dementia.

These include: keeping hydrated; staying cool with appropriate clothing; keeping the person out of the heat; cooling the person down by avoiding hot drinks, alcohol and caffeine; and keeping the home environment cool.