South East under pressure ahead of latest heatwave

An amber heat health alert has been issued across all of south-east England at the start of the summer's latest predicted heatwave.

The UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is warning that significant impacts are likely across social and health care, including a rise in deaths.

The warning is in place until Friday evening to cover high and even extreme temperatures in parts of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, up to a possible 37C (98.6F) by Thursday.

A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said it was "under continued pressure with the ongoing high temperatures".

The service reported the summer had already been "extremely busy", with 999 teams handling in excess of 210,000 calls in June and July, an increase of around 20,000 on the same period in 2025.

The highest temperatures in June and July were 38C and 35.5C respectively.

For the first time in recorded history a temperature higher than 35C is expected to be recorded in the UK for four consecutive months from May to August.

Professor Anjan Ghosh, director of public health at Kent County Council, said: "The best advice for keeping you and your loved ones safe and well in hot weather, and avoiding needing the health service, is be prepared, stay cool and keep hydrated."

A spokesperson for Surrey County Council said: "Older people, those who live alone, younger children and babies and those with serious illnesses find it particularly hard to cope when the temperature rises, so it's important to look out for those people in our community."

Kent and East Sussex become the latest counties in the UK to move official into drought on Monday.

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