Amber heat health alert updated for the South East
Please be informed that the UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat-health alert for the Southeast, which covers West Berkshire. The alert is in effect from 2PM on 22/05/2026 until 5PM on 27/05/2026 across the Southeast. The amber alert has a matrix score of 12. This means:
Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:
- a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
- likely increased demand on all health and social care services
- internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
- the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
- indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
- issues managing medicines
- staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
- increased demand for power exceeding capacity
- other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
- water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning
22/05/2026