Health boss warns heatwave will impact NHS

A health boss has said the amber health alert across the East of England will impact NHS services

A medical director says the amber health alert issued across the East of England will have an "impact across the whole of the health service".

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat health alert for all English regions.

Dr Frankie Swords, medical director of the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, said: "When the heat gets really really intense like this that means there is going to be an impact across the whole of the health service."

Suffolk became the first place in the UK to officially enter a heatwave on Thursday after temperatures passed 27C for the third day in a row.

Alerts are in place across the whole of England until 09:00 BST on Monday.

Dr Swords told BBC Radio Norfolk: "Most of us look forward to sunshine, and when we are sensible and careful, it is great.

"Hospitals, GPs, community pharmacies, 111; they are all going to be busy.

"We are always looking at 'how is that going to affect our demands', and we try to play accordingly."

Dr Swords said older and younger people, and people with medical conditions, could be affected by the heatwave

Dr Swords advised people to close their curtains if windows were facing the sun, and when it got cooler to open windows to let the air in.

"It is simple things like turning off unnecessary electrical items," she added.

The Met Office declare a heatwave if a threshold temperature is met for at least three consecutive days.

A temperature of 29.3C (about 85F) was recorded in Santon Downham, near Brandon in Suffolk, on Thursday.

In Marham, Norfolk, a temperature of about 30C (86F) is expected on Saturday.

Places like Marham in Norfolk are expected to reach temperatures in the late 20s