Amber warm weather health alert

Our hospitals

We provide services in the hospital, the community and at people's homes. The sites we operate from are Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon Urgent Treatment Centre and Bensham Hospital. You can find out more about our sites here.

Our hospitals

This alert means that the forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including:

a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups
a likely increase in demand for health services
temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics may rise above the levels recommended for assessing health risks
the heat may affect our staff’s ability to deliver services
challenges keeping indoor temperatures from overheating, leading to more risk to vulnerable people, particularly those living independently
issues managing medicines
staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)
increased demand for power exceeding capacity
other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)

Some further advice and information:

The main risks posed by a heatwave are:

heat exhaustion and heatstroke

not drinking enough water (dehydration)

overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing

A heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are:

people who spend a lot of time outside or in hot places – those who live in a top-floor flat, the homeless or those whose jobs are outside

older people – especially those over 75 and female

those who live on their own or in a care home

people who have a serious or long-term illness including heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease or some mental health conditions

people who are on multiple medicines that may make them more likely to be badly affected by hot weather

those who may find it hard to keep cool – babies and the very young, the bed bound, those with drug or alcohol addictions or with Alzheimer’s disease

Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.

Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.

Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.

For more information visit GOV.UK: Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather.

You can also get help from the environmental health office at your local council, if you think a hot house is affecting your health or someone else’s. They can inspect a rented home for hazards to health, including excess heat.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

If you or someone else feels unwell with a high temperature during hot weather, it may be heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Find out about the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and when to get help