Heat Health Alert for the South East from yellow to amber

Published: 05 September 2023

The Met Office has now upgraded its Heat Health Alert for the South East from yellow to amber, but still covering from now until 9pm this Sunday (10 September).

Amber alerts are issued when the level of heat is likely to impact the whole population. 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 AC capacity exceeded possible
• Other sectors starting to observe impacts (e.g. travel delays)

Below are some key resources you may find useful: 

General Guidance 

· Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

· Hot weather and health: supporting vulnerable people - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Specific guidance for your setting or sector  

· Heat-Health Alert action card for the voluntary and community sector - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

· Heat-Health Alert action card for commissioners - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

· Heat-Health Alert action card for providers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)