Heatwave boosts tourism levels, but adds pressure on health services
It might be a little cooler in the UK today but temperatures are expected to rise again this weekend
Last updated 14th Jul 2022
The amber weather warning for extreme heat runs from Sunday until Tuesday - bringing a boost to tourism businesses, but added pressure on health services and concerns by a homeless charity.
South Western Ambulance Service say they're seeing 'sustained demand' .
It means coastguards are now being sent to medical incidents across places like the South West Coast Path.
Pete Kenny oversees the service in parts of Devon and Cornwall
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “As a result of a sustained demand on our service, our Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) is at Level 4 – which represents ‘extreme pressure’.
“This level allows us to reallocate resources on the road and in our control rooms and to reprioritise our operational efforts to ensure we provide the best care possible to the communities we serve.
“The public can support us by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency and by taking steps to keep hydrated and stay out of the sun at the hottest periods of the day.”
We asked a spokesperson for Torbay Hospital if any special measures had been introduced as a result of the heatwave, they said: "We are still experiencing high demand for our urgent and emergency care services as we have during this year, but we wouldn't be able to confirm if any of this was specifically due to the heat.
"We have an organisation-wide heatwave plan in place for these periods of warmer weather, which focuses on extra and preventative measures both for the people in our care and for our staff working during these times.
The UK Health Security Agency have published a heat alert which has details of how people can stay safe during this warmer weather
Carolyn Custerson is chief exec of the English Riviera BID Company, and says the heatwave has helped the local tourism sector
A Plymouth and Torbay charity says the hot weather can be as dangerous for homeless people as the cold.
Shekinah says it's been handing out things like suncream and bottled water to people with nowhere to live in the city.
It’s sweltering across Europe – with the conditions contributing to wildfires in France and Spain.