Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of communications in issuing heat alerts.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a Weather Health Alerting (WHA) system in partnership with the Met Office, as part of its Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) for the health and social care sector. The UKHSA publishes annual reports which contain an assessment of the AWHP’s performance, including communication. The UKHSA collaborates with academic partners to assess how communications are received, and how guidance is utilised. The WHA system has approximately 35,000 subscribers. The UKHSA undertakes communication activity with the Met Office to ensure that the health system and the public are aware of periods of hot weather, the health risks of heat, and what action they should take. The UKHSA issues proactive communications for the first Heat Health Alert of any summer, and whenever an amber or red alert is issued.