Heat health warning issued as heatwave continues
BBCA yellow heat health alert has been issued in south-west England as hot weather continues to have a "significant impact".
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the alert, which also covers other parts of England including London, the East, and North West, would be active from 09:00 BST on Tuesday until 21:00 on Friday.
A yellow alert means the forecast temperatures above 25C (77F) in parts of the South West might affect health and social care services and cause a risk to vulnerable people living independently and in care settings.
The alert comes after research suggested more than 2,700 people in England and Wales might have died from heat-related causes during heatwaves in May and June.
A spokesperson for UKHSA said the weather during the alert could lead to a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over, or with health conditions.
"There may also be impacts on younger age groups," they added.
According to research from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, around 550 people died between 21 and 29 May as a result of the hot weather.
The team said a further 2,200 are thought to have died from heat-related issues between 18 and 28 June.
In the South West, the research suggested 71 people died during the May heatwave and 248 died in June.
Dr Ian McCarthy, consultant in emergency medicine at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, said the A&E department had been "really busy" during the heatwaves.
He said some patients had come in with severe sunburn and there had been cases of elderly people falling over after becoming dehydrated.
McCarthy added the whole health and social care system was "under strain" during the heatwave and asked people to make "sensible decisions" before attending A&E.
"Not only are we seeing more patients than we'd normally do at this time of year but they're having to wait longer while we're dealing with those extra pressures," he said.
"We'd ask people to make sure they choose the right service."
