Cold weather alert for Berkshire and north Hampshire

An amber cold alert has come into effect for Berkshire and north Hampshire.

Issued by the UK health security agency it warns of significant impacts across health and social care services and last all next week.

Concerns include:

• a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups

• a likely increase in demand for health services

• temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks

• challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people

• staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)

• other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)

In Reading the council's severe weather emergency protocol will be extended over the weekend to ensure anyone sleeping rough is offered help.

A council spokesperson said:

"With the weather remaining very cold, our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) which was activated on New Year’s Eve has been extended.. There to prevent people sleeping on the streets when conditions are unsafe to do so, it will be reviewed again on Monday 5 January.

"Working with charity partners including Launchpad Reading, The Salvation Army and St Mungo’s, this response is triggered by temperatures of 0 degrees or below for three consecutive nights."

Go to the council's website to find out how to report any sighting of rough sleepers you might be concerned about.

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