A HOSPITAL has been inundated by patients affected by a mini heatwave.

Accident and emergency staff at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton have been dealing with a sharp rise in cases as people struggled to cope as temperatures soared.

Problems included patients who had collapsed, had chest pains or who were suffering dehydration.

Many of the people affected have been elderly and those suffering from respiratory problems who are particularly vulnerable when temperatures are high.

A hospital spokeswoman said: “We have been quite busy and it is related to the hot weather we have had. There have been quite a few people coming in and it has been noticeable.

“We would urge people to take extra care when out and about.”

However hospitals elsewhere in the county said they had not seen a noticeable rise in numbers but the number of people affected could rise as the impact of the hot weather takes its toll.

The Department of Health issued a Level 2 Alert for Sunday and Monday after the Met Office predicted temperatures would rise. Although the latest hot spell is temporarily over, health bosses are urging people to take extra precautions to avoid sunburn, heatstroke and other problems.

Neighbours and relatives are also being asked to keep an eye out for elderly people who may be susceptible to the heat.

In a joint statement, the four primary care trusts in Sussex said: “Everyone enjoys the sun but people need to realise that the sun can be powerful no matter what time of year it is and what the weather conditions are.

“You can still burn if it's cloudy, and a breeze can make the sun feel cooler than it actually is.

“We would urge everyone to use sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher, spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, cover up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses, particularly take extra care of children’s skin and make sure they are protected.”