Latest news with #heathealthalert
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Doctors say 5-day walkout will go ahead even if heatwave alerts issued
A 'highly dangerous' five-day walkout by junior doctors will go ahead even if health alerts are issued as a result of the hot weather, the British Medical Association has said. Resident doctors in England, as junior doctors are now known, are set to strike from 7am on 25 July as part of a pay dispute with the government. The industrial action will happen even if temperatures soar again next week, leading to warnings of fatalities, the doctors' union has told the Independent. Last week an amber heat health alert was issued for large parts of England, with authorities warning high temperatures at the weekend were likely to lead to deaths. As hot and dry weather scorched the country, the UK Health Security Agency's upgraded the less severe yellow alerts that had been in place in five regions, warning of a 'significant impact' in the affected areas including a ' rise in deaths.' While there are currently no alerts in place for next week, the Met Office long-range forecast warns that temperatures are 'expected to be above normal for the majority of the UK throughout this period', and that 'some hot conditions are likely to develop'. Asked if the planned strikes would still go ahead even if there were health warnings in place because of the weather, a BMA spokesman said: 'During all previous strikes we had an agreed system with NHS England which allows for resident doctors to voluntarily return to work in the event of safety concerns about services, arising from circumstances that were not related to industrial action. We expect this to be the same again. 'This relates to requests by individual Trusts and services, so taken on a case-by-case basis'. Professor Robert Winston, a Labour peer who became a household name through his documentaries on child development, has warned that the 'highly dangerous' industrial action by the BMA risks harming the public's trust in the profession. But the new leader of the BMA has said that the doctors' 29 per cent pay demand is 'non-negotiable' and warned strikes could go on for years. Ahead of discussions planned for later this week, the health secretary Wes Streeting said he was pleased that the BMA has agreed to "sit down and talk to try and avert these strikes". But he stressed that the government had been "really clear" that it will not "reopen this year's pay award", he told Sky News. "I'm very clear we can't go further on pay - we've already given them a 28.9 per cent pay increase; they had the largest pay award the entire public sector this year. So offering more would be unaffordable but also unfair to other NHS staff and other public sector workers.' But he added that there was 'plenty of stuff we can do' to 'improve the lives of resident doctors, improve the service for patients and give everyone a win win out of this situation'. Dr Tom Dolphin, from the BMA, has said the union will not negotiate on or accept a figure lower than its ask of 29 per cent, saying that is the extent of the real-terms loss of earnings doctors have seen since 2008 – a salary they want restored in full. He has also claimed the demand is reasonable and easily affordable for the NHS. But a poll at the weekend suggested public support for such a strike has collapsed. While last summer's doctors' strikes drew the backing of 52 per cent of those asked, the latest industrial action planned is only supported by one in four, 26 per cent, members of the public, the survey by Ipsos found. The Department of Health has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heatwave set to peak with highs of more than 34C, with warning of potential rise in deaths
The third heatwave to hit the UK this summer is set to peak on Saturday, forecasters have said, with highs of more than 34C possible in some areas. Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of a potential rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Temperatures hit 34.7C at Astwood Bank, near Worcester, on Friday, according to the Met Office, with similar or even higher temperatures expected on Saturday."It might be plus or minus half a degree higher or lower (on Saturday), probably maybe a little bit higher, but that's going to be the peak as then temperatures start coming down a little bit through the second half of the weekend as low pressure slowly starts to edge in," meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said. Fire chiefs have warned people to stay safe, while cautioning of the increased risks of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times. HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, saying data from the water incident database shows over the last three years most drownings occurred in July. Although temperatures may peak on Saturday, it will remain "very warm" across the country on Sunday, the Met Office said. "We're probably looking at maximum temperatures around 30C, 31C degrees across central and southern England, but still widely across the whole UK, mid to high 20s," Mr Dewhurst said. "It could still get to around 29 or 30C across southeast England on Monday, and then everyone into the fresher air by Tuesday, temperatures more like 23C, 24C as the maximum temperature." Read more: In addition to the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency also has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber. On Friday Yorkshire Water brought in hosepipe restrictions, as part of efforts to protect supplies in the face of further dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. It means customers in Kent and Sussex are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pool or ponds or to clean paths, walls or windows, with anyone ignoring the ban potentially facing fines of up to £1,000.
Sky News
5 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News
Heatwave set to peak with highs of more than 34C, with warning of potential rise in deaths
The third heatwave to hit the UK this summer is set to peak on Saturday, forecasters have said, with highs of more than 34C possible in some areas. Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of a potential rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Temperatures hit 34.7C at Astwood Bank, near Worcester, on Friday, according to the Met Office, with similar or even higher temperatures expected on Saturday. 2:17 "It might be plus or minus half a degree higher or lower (on Saturday), probably maybe a little bit higher, but that's going to be the peak as then temperatures start coming down a little bit through the second half of the weekend as low pressure slowly starts to edge in," meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said. Fire chiefs have warned people to stay safe, while cautioning of the increased risks of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times. HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, saying data from the water incident database shows over the last three years most drownings occurred in July. Although temperatures may peak on Saturday, it will remain "very warm" across the country on Sunday, the Met Office said. "We're probably looking at maximum temperatures around 30C, 31C degrees across central and southern England, but still widely across the whole UK, mid to high 20s," Mr Dewhurst said. "It could still get to around 29 or 30C across southeast England on Monday, and then everyone into the fresher air by Tuesday, temperatures more like 23C, 24C as the maximum temperature." In addition to the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency also has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber. On Friday Yorkshire Water brought in hosepipe restrictions, as part of efforts to protect supplies in the face of further dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. It means customers in Kent and Sussex are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pool or ponds or to clean paths, walls or windows, with anyone ignoring the ban potentially facing fines of up to £1,000.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Heat health alerts and hosepipe bans across England as third heatwave takes hold
Amber heat health alerts have been issued across parts of England and hosepipe bans imposed in various locations as the third heatwave of the summer takes hold. The heat health warning announced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) came into effect at noon on Friday and covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, east of England and London until 9am on Monday. This latest heat health warning comes as hot and dry weather scorches England, with temperatures expected to rise further over the weekend. Temperatures could reach 32C in parts of central and southern England on Friday, with the north-east, north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber to be covered by a yellow heat health alert from midday. The alerts warn of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over, or with health conditions, because of the heat. Households in Yorkshire were the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban, which came into effect on Sunday, with restrictions following in Kent and Sussex. Yorkshire Water brought in restrictions on using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, which it said is part of its efforts to protect supplies in the face of yet more dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. South East Water said demand for drinking water in the counties had reached 'record levels since May', adding: 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.' It means people are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pools or ponds or clean paths, walls or windows. The ban comes into effect from 18 July. Customers who ignore the bans could face fines of up to £1,000. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Possible highs of 33C on Saturday mean this third heatwave of the summer will fall short of the top temperatures of 34.7C recorded earlier in July, but it will be more widespread, the Met Office said. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has urged people to drink water regularly, seek shade and use sunscreen. Steve Cole, the policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk, it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Amber heat health alerts and hosepipe bans across parts of England amid heatwave
Amber heat health alerts have been issued across parts of England, as hosepipe bans come into force in various locations amid the third heatwave of the summer. The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA's) latest heat health warning comes as hot and dry weather scorches England, with temperatures set to rise further over the weekend. The alert comes into effect at 12pm on Friday and will cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London until 9am on Monday, following two other amber alerts issued in consecutive weeks at the end of June amid two separate heatwaves. Temperatures could reach 32C in parts of central and southern England on Friday, with the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber to be covered by a yellow heat health alert from midday. The alerts warn of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over, or with health conditions, because of the heat. Households in Yorkshire were the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban after months of little to no rain, with restrictions following in Kent and Sussex. Yorkshire Water brought in restrictions on using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, which it said is part of its efforts to protect supplies in the face of yet more dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. While South East Water said demand for drinking water in the counties had reached 'record levels since May', adding: 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.' Similar to its Yorkshire counterpart, it means customers are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pools or ponds or clean paths, walls or windows. Customers who ignore the bans could face fines of up to £1,000. Possible highs of 33C on Saturday mean the third heatwave will fall short of the top temperatures of 34.7C recorded earlier in July, but this heatwave will be more widespread, the Met Office said. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has urged people to drink water regularly, seek shade and use sunscreen. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk, it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.'
