Amber heat health alerts are in place across England with temperatures here in Stoke-on-Trent likely to reach 30C for the first time this year. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded its heat-health alert for the West Midlands to amber, as temperatures rise. 

The current Met Office forecast shows temperatures in Stoke-on-Trent could reach highs of 27C today (Thursday), hitting 31C on both Friday (20 June) and Saturday (21 June). 

The amber alert indicates that "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services, and warns there could be "a rise in deaths" among people with pre-existing health conditions and those aged over 65.

The UKHSA amber alerts are in place until Monday 23 June and have been upgraded from yellow warnings due to the soaring temperatures.

The alert for the West Midlands states:

"Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions.There may also be impacts on younger age groups
• likely increased demand on all health and social care services
• internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• indoor environments overheating incrasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
• issues managing medicines
• staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
• increased demand for power exceeding capacity
• other sectors starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)"