UK weather: Rare amber cold health warning today with 'deaths likely' as Brits brace for -7C frost
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A rare amber cold health warning has been issued as the UKHSA warns deaths are "likely". The UK's Health Security Agency confirmed there would be warnings in place until Tuesday, with its rare continuation of the amber ruling confirmed on the Government website. The warning, which was placed at 12pm on Thursday, January 9, will continue until 9am on Tuesday, January 14.
Weather during this forecast is likely to "cause significant impacts across health and social care services" and may see an increase in demand for health services or staffing issues across the country. The amber warning is in place for all of England.
Factors considered by the Health Security Agency included hospitals, care homes and clinics, as well as the possibility of a "rise in deaths". They said there may be "a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups.".
The service also confirmed a "likely increase in demand for health services," "temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks," and "challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C".
The UK is facing its coldest January in 15 years after reports of -18.7C were recorded in Altnaharra, Scotland. Temperatures in England were said to have dropped to -11C in Cumbria and -5C in Heathrow on Friday (January 10). According to the UKHSA, the weather health alerting system is intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
