An amber heat health alert comes into effect in Essex today as temperatures are forecast to climb as high as 36C this week.
The warning, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), is in place from 9am on Tuesday, August 11, until 9pm on Friday, August 14, and covers the entire East of England.
The Met Office has warned that temperatures could reach the mid-30s later in the week, with Thursday expected to be the hottest day.
Jason Kelly, Met Office chief forecaster, said: "Heat will gradually build this week, with temperatures reaching into the mid-30s Celsius in what will be a fairly widespread heatwave for England and Wales.
"The driver for this week’s heat is high pressure, this becoming dominant over the next day or so, bringing plenty of sunshine and allowing temperatures to build day-by-day.
"Southerly or southeasterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe, meaning we’re looking at further notable heat for many this week, likely peaking on Thursday."
The UKHSA has warned that the extreme temperatures could have serious impacts on health and social care services.
The alert states: "Significant impacts are likely 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.
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"There may also be impacts on younger age groups [and] 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 alert also warns that staffing shortages, caused by issues such as transport cancellations, could disrupt services.
It highlights additional risks from overheating indoor environments for vulnerable people in homes and care settings, as well as increased pressure on power supplies.
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