Research and analysis

Syndromic surveillance summary: 22 February 2024 week 7

Updated 25 April 2024

Reporting week 7: 12 February to 18 February.

During week 7, there were further decreases reported across all respiratory syndromic indicators including NHS 111 cold /flu and cough, emergency department (ED) acute respiratory infections, ED, GP in-hours and out-of-hours influenza-like illness and GP in-hours upper and lower respiratory tract infections. GP in-hours consultations for measles and whooping cough were stable during week 7, however both remained above seasonally expected levels.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system

During week 7, NHS 111 respiratory syndromic indicators (including cold/flu, cough and difficulty breathing) continued to decrease for both NHS 111 calls and online assessments.

Please note that recent updates to the NHS Pathways clinical system used by NHS 111 has affected NHS 111 difficulty breathing and ‘potential COVID-19’ syndromic calls and online assessments. Please see ‘Data quality issues of note this week’ for further information.

Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK

GP in hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 7, GP in-hours consultations for respiratory indicators including influenza-like illness and upper and lower respiratory tract infections decreased, although pneumonia consultations remained above seasonally expected levels. Measles consultations remain above baselines but there were no further increases reported during week 7. Scarlet fever and whooping cough consultations also remained stable overall.

Access the GP in-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK

GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 7, GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illness decreased, but remain just above seasonally expected levels.

Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK

Emergency department syndromic surveillance system

During week 7, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illness decreased but they remain above seasonally expected levels. Pneumonia attendances were stable however they remain above seasonally expected levels. Attendances for scarlet fever decreased during week 7 but they remain above baseline levels.

Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK

Ambulance syndromic surveillance system

During week 7 daily ambulance calls for difficulty breathing decreased.

Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK