HSE / UKHSA - Level 4 heat-health alert: Public Health message on staff heat-risk and PPE

The Met Office has issued a level 4 Heat-Health Alert due to high temperatures from midnight on Sunday, to the temperatures peaking on Monday and Tuesday. There is now a red alert for extreme temperatures from midnight Monday 18 to 11.59pm Tuesday 19 July. Read further infromation on the health health alert 

This has raised concern as hospitals and other care settings in England are at risk of overheating in warm weather. During 2018 nearly 50% of NHS hospital trusts reported at least one incident of overheating, and 8% of trusts reported over 50 incidents.

This alert is to remind colleagues about the heat-risk for care staff whilst using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), in addition to working in warm/hot conditions.

Please refer to the public health message attached which contains more information on staff heat-risk, actions to be taken and by whom. 

NHS England and NHS Improvement Regional Offices: please cascade this alert to Community Pharmacy, Dental and Optometry contractors.

Click to access attached message