UKSHA issues amber heat-health alert for the East of England, South East, South West and London until 8pm on Tuesday 23 June
The UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has urged health and social care providers in to "ensure they are prepared" after it issued amber and yellow heat alert warnings for much of England today.
The agency issued its third amber alert of 2026 on Thursday,covering the East of England, South East, South West and London, and a yellow alert for the West Midlands and East Midlands until 8pm on Tuesday 23 June.
An amber alert means that the agency believes that 'significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures'. These include a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, a likely increased demand on all health and social care services, internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment, the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services, indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings and issues managing medicines.
The UKSHA warned the high temperatures - which are expected to reach 30 degrees in some areas of southern England - are also likely to lead to 'staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport), and increased demand for power exceeding capacity.
In areas under a yellow warning, the UKSHA said there 'minor impacts are likely across health and social care services, including 'an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life of vulnerable people.
UKSHA head of extreme events and health protection Agostinho Sousa said that "sustained periods of warm weather can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults" and urged health and social care services in affected regions to "ensure they are prepared."
Guidance and links to all UKSHA recommendations for adult social care providers on how to respond to different levels of heat-health alerts are here.
