The NHS has issued an urgent warning telling people to avoid going outside as Britain faces three days of snow and temperatures as low as -8C.
Health officials are urging the public to stock up on food and medication amid serious concerns over health risks as the mercury plummets across the nation.
In the West Midlands, the NHS Black Country integrated care board warned specifically about the dangers of slips, trips and falls.
“Avoid going out early in the morning when frost is thick or late at night when it’s dark,” the board advised, urging people to wear shoes with good grip.
Health officials are urging the public to stock up on food and medication amid serious concerns over health risks as the mercury plummets
PA
Wye Valley NHS Trust and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust both instructed residents to ensure they have sufficient food and medicine while reducing draughts into their homes.
The NHS is also calling on people nationwide to check on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family.
The stark warning comes as an amber cold weather alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) across England for the next week.
The UKHSA’s amber alert warns of “significant impacts” on health services, with potential risks to the entire population.
LATEST COLD WEATHER UPDATES:
Almost the entirety of Great Britain has been slapped with yellow weather warnings by the Met Office – and an amber warning from the UKHSA
MET OFFICE
The agency warns that vulnerable people will struggle to maintain the recommended 18C home temperature during sub-zero conditions.
Hospitals and care homes are expected to face temperatures below recommended levels, while transport disruption is also likely.
The alert, running from Thursday until Wednesday, warns of increased deaths among over-65s, as well as those with health conditions.
About 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales and northern England, with up to 30cm possible over high ground of the Pennines.
Age UK’s Caroline Abrahams warned that the cold snap will highlight the Labour Government’s decision to limit the Winter Fuel Payment
PA
The Met Office has warned that rural communities face being cut off, with potential school closures and power cuts set to strike as temperatures sink further.
Road closures and disruptions to flights and trains are also likely as the severe weather takes hold.
The weather chaos comes with political warnings, too – Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, warned that the cold snap will highlight the Labour Government’s decision to limit the Winter Fuel Payment to only the poorest pensioners.
The charity has already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived,” she said.
“We urge older people to do everything they can to stay warm, even if that means risking spending more on their heating than they feel they can afford,” Abrahams added.
Marco Petagna, senior Met Office meteorologist, warned that ice would remain an issue on untreated roads despite most being gritted.
“At the moment we’ve issued a very large snow warning for Saturday until Monday,” said fellow meteorologist Tom Morgan. “It doesn’t mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.”
And further snow and ice warnings are expected to be issued on Friday.
