Heatwave SWEP ACTIVATION 19th June

This information is brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Public Health team, for the attention of all.

Please be advised that we are asking partners to be mindful of the increased temperatures over the coming days, and to work with clients to help keep them safe during the hot weather.

Outreach team will be distributing water and sunscreen to people out on the street and The Curve - The Curve William Street, Slough, SL1 1XY will welcome people that want to seek shade from 11:30am – 3 pm. If your service is able to safely offer respite from the heat in communal areas that are appropriately ventilated to those that need it - please also consider this. Loose clothing and hats to offer shade should also be offered where possible.  

Additional cool spaces have been arranged at Slough Homeless Our Concern (SHOC) - Daycentre - The Gateway, 323 High Street, Slough, SL1 1TX. 

Our Outreach team will also be offering additional, targeted support to individuals with specific health needs, who may be further impacted by current temperatures. 

For any new referrals, please use StreetLink - Connecting people sleeping rough to local services to connect them with local services. 

Thank you to all services for your help in responding to this heatwave accordingly. People sleeping rough and those that use substances or alcohol are more at risk from hot weather because:

  • they are more likely to be exposed to heat
  • they are likely to be more vulnerable to the effect of heat due underlying health conditions
  • they may be less able to take preventative steps for a variety of reasons, especially as a result of social exclusion or intoxication

 

Please see below details of the weather alert received form Public Health with links and further guidance.

 

The UK Health Security Agency has issued an Amber heat-health alert for the South East, which covers Slough Borough.

The alert is in effect from 12AM on 19/06/2026 until 8 PM on 23/06/2026, when we will review and update our response. 

 

As published on the heat-health alert dashboard, this means that significant impacts are possible 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. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
  • a likely increase in demand for health services
  • internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
  • the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
  • indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings

You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.

Anyone can feel unwell in hot weather, but some groups face higher risks of bad health. This may be due to their medical conditions, or because their ‘building blocks of health’ are unstable – e.g. housing conditions, working environment, or support in the community. Hot weather can also put pressure on health and care services, or disrupt how they are delivered.

Many of the risks and impacts are predictable and preventable:

  • Be aware of which populations face greater health risks in hot weather, how to keep homes and indoor spaces cool, the symptoms of heat-related illness, and how to cool down – see below for public health guidance and resources.
  • Ensure your colleagues are aware of what to do now and if the alert level is further raised – see the action cards and other guidance applicable to your setting.
  • Communicate to service-users about the health risks of hot weather, the simple actions they can take to Beat the Heat, and look out for people who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated.
  • Cascade information through your networks on how to reduce the health risks associated with hot weather.

 

Key groups at risk from hot weather

(For details, see Section 4.2 of Supporting Evidence of the AHWP)

  • older people (aged 65 years and over)
  • babies and young children (particularly those aged 5 years and under)
  • people with health conditions, including: heart problems, breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, mobility problems or a mental health condition
  • pregnant women (potential risk of preterm birth)
  • people on certain medications that potentially affect heart or kidney function, cognition, or ability to sweat
  • people who are already ill and dehydrated (for example, from diarrhoea and vomiting)
  • people who experience alcohol or drug dependence
  • people who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves
  • people who are physically active and spend a lot of time outside
  • people who work in jobs that require manual labour or extensive time outside
  • people experiencing homelessness, including rough sleepers and those who are unable to make adaptations to their living accommodation such as sofa surfers or those living in hostels

Resources

 

Thank you for your work supporting the community during hot weather.