AMBER Heat Health Alert until 23 June 9am
the Met Office has now upgraded its Heat Health Alert for the South East from yellow to amber and extended it to 9am next Monday (23 June).
As a reminder when these AMBER alerts are issued the level of heat is likely to impact the whole population - healthy people as well as those who are vulnerable.
This means significant impacts are probable across the health and social care sector due to the high temperatures, including:
- Observed increase likely in mortality across the population particularly in the 65+ age group or those with health conditions.
- But impacts may also be seen in younger age groups.
- Increased demand for remote health care services likely.
- Internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed recommended thresholds for clinical risk assessment.
- Impact on ability of services to be delivered due to heat effects on workforce possible and many indoor environments likely to be overheating.
- Risk to vulnerable people living independently in community as well as in care settings.
- Medicines management issues.
- Staffing issues due to external factors (e.g. transport).
- Cross system demand for temporary air conditioning capacity exceeded possible.
- Other sectors starting to observe impacts (e.g. travel delays).