PHE heatwave mortality monitoring
Reports on the surveillance of excess mortality during periods of heatwave.
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Public Health England’s (PHE) heatwave mortality monitoring helps to provide information on excess deaths observed during heatwaves each year to inform public health actions. As with the annual heatwave plan, this is carried out each time the Met Office issues a Level 3 heatwave alert.
During the period of Level 3 heatwaves in the summer months, we estimate excess daily mortality levels using the baseline death registration data from the General Register Office. At the end of the summer, excess daily mortality levels for the heatwave periods is estimated using death registration data from the Office for National Statistics and summarised in the attached reports.
Heatwaves are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. The health impacts of these events can be significant particularly for vulnerable populations when excess mortality can occur.
The Heatwave Plan for England, produced jointly by PHE, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England is intended to protect the population from heat-related harm to health.
Last updated 19 November 2020 + show all updates
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Added 2020 report.
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Added 2019 report.
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Added 2017 and 2018 reports.
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First published.