The UK Health Security Agency issued an Amber Heat-Health Alert covering between 11am on 22nd June 2026 until 11pm on Friday 26th June across the North West. This means there is a risk to health, particularly (but not exclusively) for older people, those with long-term health conditions, and people who may be more affected by heat—such as those living alone or in housing that’s hard to keep cool.
Significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:
- a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
- likely increased demand on all health and social care services
- internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
- the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
- indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
- issues managing medicines
- staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
- increased demand for power exceeding capacity
- other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
- water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning
Please see the Summer Readiness Toolkit and the Heat Health Action Card for the VCFSE Sector to support your planning and response.
If you are working with any older residents then please also take at look at our Talking about Heat guide
In line with government guidance, we’re asking all VCFSE partners to take the following actions:
🔶 Key Actions at Amber Alert Level
- Check in on people who may be more affected by heat – especially those living alone or without access to cool spaces.
- Continue Yellow Alert actions – ( see attached action card) encourage hydration, ventilation, and regular contact.
- Adapt your services if needed – consider rescheduling home visits and activities to avoid the hottest part of the day.
- Brief your staff and volunteers – make sure they know the signs of heat exhaustion and what to do.
- Link in with local partners – stay connected with your local authority, health services, or Local Resilience Forum.
📄 Full details and Action Cards / Guidance