Research and analysis

Syndromic surveillance summary: 14 March 2024 week 10

Updated 25 April 2024

Reporting week 10: 4 March to 10 March

During week 10, there were increases observed in selected acute respiratory indicators in children aged 5 to 14 years including emergency department (ED) acute respiratory infections attendances and GP in-hours upper respiratory tract infection consultations. ED pneumonia attendances continue to remain at above expected levels, particularly in the 5 to 14 and 15 to 44 years age groups. There were further increases reported in syndromic indicators for scarlet fever, measles and whooping cough.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system

During week 10, selected NHS 111 respiratory syndromic indicators (including cough, difficulty breathing and ‘potential COVID-19’) remained stable or showed an increase in activity, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years.

Please note that a further update to the NHS Pathways clinical system used by NHS 111 has affected NHS 111 cold/flu calls, particularly calls in children and selected regions. Cold/flu call data presented in this report should therefore currently be interpreted with caution. 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 10, GP in-hours consultations for upper respiratory tract infections increased, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. Consultations for pharyngitis and scarlet fever also increased in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. There were further increases observed in measles and whooping cough consultations during week 10 and both remain above expected levels.

Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here.

GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 10, GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infections continued to decrease and remain at expected levels. Daily contacts for acute pharyngitis increased during week 10 and are above baseline levels.

Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here.

Emergency department syndromic surveillance system

During week 10, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections (ARI) and influenza-like illness remained stable but above seasonally expected levels however there were small increases observed in ARI attendances in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. Pneumonia attendances decreased nationally but remained at above expected levels in the 5 to 14 and 15 to 44 years age groups. Scarlet fever attendances continued to increase, notably in London and the South East and remain above seasonally expected levels.

Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins here.

Ambulance syndromic surveillance system

During week 10, daily difficulty breathing calls were stable but remain above expected levels. Calls for ‘allergic reactions’ and injuries increased, but each remained at expected levels.

Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins here.