The UK government has issued a risk of death warning with the country set to be plunged into a significant cold snap lasting for days.
Issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it covers large swathes of the country with an amber cold health alert confirmed this morning (18 November).
It comes as the Met Office has issued three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK, with some lasting until Wednesday (20 November).
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Confirming the announcement, the UKHSA posted on social media: "Today we have updated our cold health alert to amber for most of England.
"Our data dashboard includes a heat health alert map with useful information and guidance for health and social care settings."
Where are amber alerts in place?
Amber alerts for cold are in place across the North East; North West; Yorkshire and The Humber; East Midlands; West Midlands; and East of England.
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The amber alert is in place across these six regions until 6pm on Saturday (23 November).
Most critically for those living in these areas, the UKHSA confirms there is a risk of death associated with the cold alert.
"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," the alert reads.
"We may also see impacts on younger age groups."
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Pressure on the NHS
The UKHSA says that extra pressure on the NHS and primary care is expected, with temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics also expected to drop below the levels recommended for assessing health risks.
It adds that there will be ongoing 'challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended leading 18C to more risk to vulnerable people', as well as staffing issues due to external factors such as travel delays, including cancelled trains or impassable roads due to snow and ice.
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Three yellow alerts are in place across London, the South East, and the South West, also until 6pm on Saturday. Here, the UKHSA says forecasted weather 'is likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and greater risk to life of vulnerable people'.
Yellow weather warnings
It comes as three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office across the United Kingdom, impacting parts of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
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The warning in Northern Ireland covers the entire country and is in place from 3pm today until 10am on Tuesday (19 November). The warning in Scotland covers the northern part of the country and the Shetland Islands from 4pm today until 10am on Wednesday.
In England and Wales, a yellow warning is in place across the majority of the north in both countries from 7pm today until 10am tomorrow.
The Met Office says you should expect:
- Possible travel delays on roads stranding some vehicles and passengers
- Possible delays or cancellations to rail and air travel
- A chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
- Power cuts may occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
- Some rural communities could become cut off
- Bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled, with some road closures and longer journey times possible
Tom Earnshaw