The Met Office said today (Monday, May 25) that a new UK daily temperature record for both May and spring has been provisionally broken, with 34.8 degrees Celsius reached at Kew Gardens in London on the bank holiday.
However, a yellow Heat-Health Alert has been issued for the South West.
It said ‘significant impacts are possible across the health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions’.
Discussing the possible rise in deaths, the alert said there may additionally be effects on younger age groups.
The weather health alerting system is provided by the UK Health Security Agency in partnership with the Met Office.
In addition, the alert said the possible effects across the health and social care services included a likely rise in demand for health services.
“Internal temperatures in care settings – hospitals and care homes – may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment,” it added.
Another possible impact across the health and social care services is the heat affecting the workforce’s ability to deliver services.
The alert also said a potential effect across the services is ‘indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings’.
The alert has a low likelihood and a medium impact.
It was issued at 2pm on Friday, May 22 and is due to end at 5pm on Wednesday, May 27.
