The UK has been experiencing increasingly severe weather fronts over the last decade. There have been extremes of severity particularly with cold weather, heatwaves and flooding. When such adverse weather occurs, it has the capability of causing considerable service disruption, affecting significantly on the Trust's ability to deliver 'business as usual'.

The NHS in England experience many different issues that result in potentially increased needs or service demands and can include:

  • Extreme weather (snow, gales, rain, floods, very low/ sub-zero temperatures and heatwave)

  • Infectious disease such as flu, Norovirus and Covid-19

  • Staff sickness

  • Long bank holiday periods

  • Increase in demand for urgent/ emergency care.

When the Met Office issues an alert, this will be cascaded to all clinical staff and also shared via our normal communications channels. For further information, please refer to our severe weather procedure.