Syndromic surveillance summary: 11 January 2024 week 1
Updated 25 April 2024
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Reporting week 1: 1 January to 7 January 2024
During week 1, there was an overall decrease in respiratory indicator activity across most syndromic surveillance systems. Emergency department (ED) acute respiratory infection (ARI), pneumonia and COVID-19-like attendances all decreased, as did NHS 111 calls and online assessments for ‘potential COVID-19’, cold/flu, cough and sore throat and GP out-of-hours ARI contacts. There were also decreases observed across most syndromic gastroenteritis indicators including ED gastroenteritis and NHS 111 calls and online assessments for diarrhoea and vomiting.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 1, there were decreases observed across all respiratory indicators including cold/flu, cough, difficulty breathing and ‘potential COVID-19’. Diarrhoea and vomiting indicators also decreased. Online assessments for eye problems increased during week 1, particularly in groups of those aged 15 to 44 years and aged 45 to 64 years.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 1, GP in-hours consultation rates for upper respiratory tract infections decreased overall but increased in adults while lower respiratory tract infections increased overall. COVID-19-like consultations decreased, particularly in the group of those aged 65 years and over. Influenza-like illness and pneumonia consultations both increased slightly. There was an increase in the consultation rate for measles during week 1 with a noticeable spike observed on 2 January 2024 (when routine GP services resumed after the public holiday).
Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
GP out-of-hours daily contacts for ARI decreased during week 1, with small decreases observed across all adult age groups. Influenza-like illness contacts increased, particularly in adults aged 15 to 44 years and aged 45 to 64 years. Contacts for gastroenteritis and vomiting decreased during week 1.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
Daily ED attendances across all syndromic respiratory indicators decreased during week 1. Acute respiratory infection attendances decreased across all age groups except adults aged 15 to 44 years, which remain at elevated levels. COVID-19-like attendances decreased across all age groups and regions. ED attendances for gastroenteritis also decreased across all age groups during week 1. There was a one-day spike in acute alcohol intoxication attendances observed on 1 January 2024.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
Daily ambulance calls for difficulty breathing and chest pain initially increased during week 1, however calls then decreased towards the end of the week but remain above expected levels. There was a spike in daily ambulance calls for ‘overdose/ingestion/poisoning’ observed on 1 January 2024 however calls have since returned to expected levels.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK