Syndromic surveillance summary: 8 May 2024 week 18
Updated 16 May 2024
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Reporting week 18: 29 April to 5 May
During week 18 there were increases observed in certain syndromic surveillance systems in line with expected changes in health care access over the extended public holiday weekend. There were small increases in acute respiratory infection syndromic indicators particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. GP in-hours whooping cough and measles consultations remain above expected levels, but consultations for whooping cough continued to increase.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
Total NHS 111 calls and online assessments increased over the public holiday weekend during week 18, in line with expected activity. Trends presented in this report should therefore be interpreted with some caution. NHS 111 calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections increased across all age groups. NHS 111 calls for diarrhoea and vomiting continued to increase in all age groups. Eye problems calls and online assessments also increased during week 18.
Please note that recent updates to the NHS Pathways clinical tool used by NHS 111 have affected the reported levels of certain syndromic indicators. As a result of these changes all individual respiratory indicators have been removed from this report and replaced with a generic ‘acute respiratory infections’ calls indicator. Please see ‘Notes and Caveats’ for further information.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins here
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 18, GP in-hours consultation rates for upper respiratory tract infections continued to increase in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. Small increases in the COVID-19-like indicator in adults were observed. Consultation rates for scarlet fever continued to increase in children and approached seasonally expected baseline levels nationally. Consultation rates for measles remain above expected levels while consultations for whooping cough continued to increase.
Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 18, GP out-of-hours contacts for acute respiratory infections increased slightly, as did contacts for fever, but both are within seasonally expected levels. Contacts for difficulty breathing/asthma/wheeze also increased slightly and are above baseline levels. Daily contacts for vomiting increased above seasonally expected levels during week 18, particularly in children aged under one year and adults in the 15 to 44 years age group.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 18 there was a small increase in attendances for acute respiratory infections in children aged 5 to 14 years. Attendances for COVID-19 like illness were stable but there was an increase the 15 to 44 and 65 years and older age groups. Pneumonia attendances remained stable overall but continue to be above seasonally expected levels. There was an increase in attendances for gastroenteritis but they remain below seasonally levels. Attendances for scarlet fever were stable during week 18 however activity remains above seasonally expected levels.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins here
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 18, there were small increases in ambulance calls for cardiac or respiratory arrest, allergic reactions and overdose, ingestion or poisoning. Difficulty breathing calls remain stable but above seasonally expected levels.