The NHS has warned UK households not to leave house during these hours as the UK braces for heavy snowfall. The NHS has warned people not to go outside early in the morning or late at night during the snowy weather expected this week.
In the West Midlands, the NHS Black Country integrated care board warned of the public to be careful of slips, trips and falls as the snow alert begins on Saturday, January 4. “Avoid going out early in the morning when frost is thick or late at night when it’s dark,” it said. On Friday, sunrise and sunset are at 8am and 4pm respectively.
In Herefordshire, the Wye Valley NHS Trust told people to “make sure you have sufficient food and medicine and take measures to reduce draughts in your home”. Similar advice was issued by George Eliot hospital in Nuneaton in Warwickshire too.
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Caroline Abrahams, the charity’s director, said it had already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived” and called on Labour Party Prime Minister and leader Sir Keir Starmer to make it clear that financial help was available.
She said: “The factor which is more likely than any other to encourage older people to run their heating through this cold snap is a clear indication from the Government that more financial help is definitely on the way, via a change to their decision to ration the winter fuel payment or through some other mechanism, such as the introduction of a social tariff.
“This would be a wonderful start to the new year for millions of pensioners who are fearful about getting through this winter with their health and their finances intact.” The snow alerts take hold on Saturday and last for five days.
The UK is in the midst of a cold snap with bitter temperatures sweeping the country in the wake of Christmas.