A red heat health alert has been issued for the region, including Worcestershire, with warnings of ‘risk to life’ for older people.
The alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office and is in force from 1am on June 24 until 11pm on June 25 and covers the entire region.
It warns of an increased risk to life, particularly for older people, and severe disruption to health and social care services due to extreme temperatures.
Demand for services is expected to rise sharply, with potential workforce challenges and difficulty delivering care in hot indoor environments.
There is also a risk of critical infrastructure failures, such as power outages, and an increase in water-related incidents like cold-water shock and drowning.
WARNING: The red heat warning comes into force on Wednesday issued by the UK Health Security Agency and Met Office (Image: Getty Images)
Health and social care providers are being advised to review the UKHSA’s Weather Health Alert System user guidance.
Care homes, hospitals, and home care providers have been issued with tailored “action cards” outlining the steps they should take during the alert.
The UKHSA recommends organisations refer to its Adverse Weather and Health Plan, which details both short- and long-term strategies for managing health risks during extreme weather events.
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National Severe Weather Warnings may also be issued by the Met Office at short notice, so you can take appropriate action.
The UKHSA has issued public guidance on staying safe during hot weather.
Health trust chief executives, local authority leaders, and social care organisations are among those who receive direct heat health alerts from the UKHSA.
The alert service in England operates each year from June 1 to September 30, the period when high temperatures are likely to occur.
If high temperatures are observed outside this window, an extraordinary heat health alert will be issued, and stakeholders should take the usual public health actions.
UKHSA and the Met Office use a risk matrix to determine the severity and likelihood of impact for each alert, helping organisations respond appropriately.
People can sign up to receive direct alerts from the UKHSA or share warnings within their organisations.
Users are encouraged to monitor updates on the UKHSA data dashboard and Met Office website regularly.
Organisations and individuals are advised to stay alert, review all relevant guidance promptly, and take action to reduce the health risks posed by extreme heat.