Hospitals are inundated in soaring temperatures

NHS doctors also say that a worrying number of young patients are arriving at the burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead with severe sunburn, which could increase the long-term risk of skin cancer.

GPs and consultants at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath are urging people to make the most of the expert care they can receive from pharmacies regarding sunburn, insect bites, stings, hayfever or allergies. In most cases, pharmacies are the best places to go to for quick advice and treatments.

Forecasters are predicting temperatures will continue to rise and could reach as high as 34C, which, without adequate protection, could cause sunburn, dehydration, heatstroke and, in extreme cases, fatalities among the particularly vulnerable.

Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead has sent out a special appeal for parents to be vigilant about their skin after a worrying number of admissions to its specialist children’s burns unit.

The hospital has seen ten babies and children with severe sunburn in the last four weeks, six of whom needed specialist treatment. The youngest patient was just four weeks old, the oldest was 14.

Chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma and hayfever, are also often made worse by the heat and high pollen count. But sufferers can prevent their conditions from worsening by stocking up on medication from local pharmacies or their local GP if necessary before the weekend.

Dr Minesh Patel, CCG Clinical Chair and East Grinstead GP, said: “We have seen a high number of people turning up to hospital A&E departments with stings, rashes and sunburn. Please make sure you are prepared for the hot weather and in particular, that you look out for vulnerable or elderly neighbours, friends and family.

“Our local pharmacists are highly trained healthcare experts and can dispense good advice as well as prevention remedies and treatments for many conditions worsened by hot weather.”

Community Pharmacist Piers Barrett-Berry works regularly in a number of different pharmacies around Horsham and Mid Sussex. He said: “Pharmacists can do much more than people realise.

“Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals that are perfectly placed for people to get good medical advice. We can help prevent ailments, such as sunburn, but we can also give good advice and products if suitable. Pharmacies are open long hours including at weekends, there is always a pharmacist on call for advice and you don’t need an appointment to see one.

“Pharmacies are also a place where you can get advice on getting the most out of your prescribed medicines, keeping yourself healthy, monitoring your health and services to help you stay healthy.”

The South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust has reported a significant increase in calls in Horsham and Mid Sussex, which are seven per cent higher than last year.