Health Hazards: Temperature
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of heatwaves on (a) people aged over 65 who live alone, (b) people with chronic health conditions, and (c) people with physical disabilities.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA's) Adverse Weather and Health Plan and its Supporting Evidence Document include an assessment of the health impacts of heat on people aged 65 years old and over, those who live alone, people with chronic health conditions, and those who are housebound or have low mobility.
It outlines that these groups are all at heightened risk of health impacts during hot weather episodes due to a combination of difficulty avoiding the heat, and stresses on the body as it tries to cool down. The UKHSA’s heat mortality monitoring highlights that heat-related excess mortality is highest in older groups. Our Beat the Heat campaign lists the groups most vulnerable to the health impacts of heat and sets out actions they can take to reduce their risk of heat exposure. Further information is available at the following three links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adverse-weather-and-health-plan
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/beat-the-heat-advice-for-hot-weather
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