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Did you know the heat-health alert service begins in June?

June 8, 2023

The heat-health alert service provided by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office begins in June. The service forewarns of periods of high temperatures, which may affect the health of the public and is aimed at health and social care professionals and any with a role in reducing the harm extended periods of hot weather can have on health. Should conditions for an alert be reached, a heat-health alert will be issued and stakeholders are advised to take the usual public health actions as recommended in the adverse weather and health plan.

In summer 2023, the heat-health alerts will transition to an impact based alerting, which will provide users with information over and above the fact that hot weather is likely to occur. It will give an indication of the impacts likely to be observed as a result of the temperatures via a colour system.

  • Green (summer preparedness) – no alert will be issued as the conditions are likely to have minimal impact on health. However, during periods where the risk is minimal it is important that organisations ensure that they have plans in place and are prepared to respond should an alert (yellow, amber or red) be issued.
  • Yellow (response) – these alerts cover a range of situations. Yellow alerts may be issued during periods of heat which would be unlikely to impact most people, but those you are particularly vulnerable (E.g. the elderly with multiple health conditions and on multiple medications) and are likely to struggle to cope and where action is required within the health and social care sector specifically.
  • Amber (enhanced response) – an amber alert would represent a situation in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.
  • Red (emergency response) – a red alert would indicate significant risk to life. Several impacts would be expected across all sectors with a coordinated response essential.

A full overview of the new heat-Health alert system is available from UKHSA, and individuals can register to receive the alerts.

We ask colleagues familiarise themselves with the new alert system and the Adverse Weather and Health Plan for England.