The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an urgent health warning as temperatures are forecast to reach 36°C in parts of England this week. The amber alert covers London, the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East and East of England from 9am Tuesday until 6pm Wednesday, with a yellow alert for the North West and North East for the same period.
The UKHSA warned of a “significant impact” on health and social care services, including a potential “rise in deaths”. The Met Office said the heat could affect the health sector’s ability to deliver services, with risks of overheating in care settings, challenges in managing medicines, staffing issues due to transport delays, and increased power demand that may exceed capacity.
Dr Paul Coleman, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, said: “These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions. If you have friends, family or neighbours who are vulnerable, it is important to ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.”
The Met Office’s Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree said temperatures will peak on Tuesday around the mid-30s, remaining above average in the second half of the week, especially in the southeast. The heatwave follows a series of wildfires, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reporting a large fire on Arthur’s Seat “almost certainly sparked by human activity”. London Fire Brigade said it attended 80 deliberate wildfires this summer, while others were caused by disposable BBQs and discarded cigarettes.
