Amber heat health alert: South East, 11 to 14 August 2026

Dear provider,

An Amber Heat-Health Alert is now in place for the South East from 9am on Tuesday 11 August until 9pm on Friday 14 August 2026.

Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures. This may include increased risk to people who are older, have health conditions, live in care settings, or receive support in the community.

Please ensure your hot weather arrangements are active and that teams are taking appropriate steps to keep people safe. This should include:

• Checking people who may be more vulnerable to heat, including those living alone or in warmer rooms or properties.
• Encouraging and supporting regular fluid intake.
• Keeping indoor spaces as cool as possible, including managing curtains, blinds, ventilation and fans where appropriate.
• Monitoring room temperatures and escalating concerns where environments are becoming unsafe.
• Reviewing medicines storage and any heat-related risks linked to medicines or health conditions.
• Supporting staff wellbeing and considering any impact on staffing, travel or business continuity.
• Ensuring staff know how to escalate concerns, including signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion or deterioration.

Please also share the relevant advice with staff, people using services and families where appropriate:

UKHSA Heat-Health Alerts dashboard: https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/heat

Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather

Oxfordshire County Council: keeping cool in heat waves: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/social-and-health-care/public-health-and-wellbeing/keeping-cool-heat-waves

Thank you for your continued support in keeping people safe during this period of hot weather.

Kind regards,

Oxfordshire County Council