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East of England Ambulance Service on highest alert and UK Health Security Agency issues amber cold weather health alerts amid yellow snow and ice warning from Met Office




The Met Office has issued a snow and ice warning for Hertfordshire and Essex this weekend (January 4-5) as temperatures plummet after a mild Christmas and New Year.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued cold weather health alerts at the start of a week of low temperatures.

And the ambulance service for the East of England remains on its highest alert level in response to high demand.

The East of England Ambulance Service has moved to the highest escalation alert level in response to high demand across the region
The East of England Ambulance Service has moved to the highest escalation alert level in response to high demand across the region

A yellow warning of snow and ice is in place from midday on Saturday until midnight on Sunday and covers all England regions – other than the South West – and Wales.

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “At the moment we’ve issued a very large snow warning, but it doesn’t mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.”

Hertfordshire Highways gritters will be out again as temperatures in Bishop’s Stortford are forecast to drop to -4C on Thursday night, -2C on Friday night and 0C on Saturday night, when there is the greatest chance of freezing rain, sleet or snow.

Temperatures in the Bishop’s Stortford area are forecast to drop to -4C on Thursday night, -2C on Friday night and 0C on Saturday night
Temperatures in the Bishop’s Stortford area are forecast to drop to -4C on Thursday night, -2C on Friday night and 0C on Saturday night

The UKHSA has issued amber alerts for the whole of England from 12pm on Thursday (Jan 2) until next Wednesday (Jan 8), meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely.

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said that the Government’s decision to limit the winter fuel allowance of £200-£300 to the 1.1 million poorest pensioners will be put “into sharp relief” by the cold snap. Only those on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive the payments while 9.9 million others are being stripped of them.

Ms Abrahams said the charity had already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived”.

She said: “We urge older people to do everything they can to stay warm, even if that means risking spending more on their heating than they feel they can afford. The energy companies are under an obligation to help if you are struggling and there may be support available from your local council too.”

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the charity had already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived”
Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the charity had already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived”

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) announced on New Year’s Eve (Tuesday) that, in line with many other ambulance services across the country, it was moving to the highest escalation alert level in response to high demand across the region this week.

The move to operate at Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) Level 4 comes after a sustained high volume of calls, a significant and sustained number of patients waiting to be handed over at hospitals and in response to anticipated increased demand due to cold weather and New Year celebrations.

Calls have risen to an unprecedented level, with increased pressure at hospitals leading to longer waiting times for ambulances to hand over patients.

EEAST medical director Simon Walsh said: “Arriving at a hospital by ambulance won’t mean you’ll be seen any more quickly.”
EEAST medical director Simon Walsh said: “Arriving at a hospital by ambulance won’t mean you’ll be seen any more quickly.”

The huge pressure means clinicians must prioritise those most in need – so some patients will face a long wait for an ambulance and should make their own way to hospital if they can.

Moving to this level means EEAST can take various actions, including ensuring all clinicians are available to respond to calls and deploying clinicians with non-clinical drivers to get as many vehicles out to see patients as possible.

EEAST medical director Simon Walsh said: “There is an outstanding level of pressure on the whole health system in the East of England.

“We have seen a huge spike in demand, driven by an increase in respiratory illness, which means many of our hospitals are at capacity and our ambulance crews are stretched to the limit.

“I urge the public to think very carefully about using 999. If you have a medical emergency and need us, we will get to you, but there may be a delay.

“Many patients will be treated more quickly if they see their GP, use 111 or take themselves to hospital. Arriving at a hospital by ambulance won’t mean you’ll be seen any more quickly.

“During periods of high demand for our services, patients with urgent and immediately life-threatening conditions are our priority. Those with less serious conditions will be advised that there may be a delayed response or, if it is safe to do so, they should seek alternative care. We apologise to anyone experiencing delays.”



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