Syndromic surveillance summary: 25 April 2024 week 16
Updated 2 May 2024
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Reporting week 16: 15 April to 21 April
During week 16 there were further decreases observed in GP in-hours lower respiratory tract infection consultation rates and ED pneumonia attendances, however both remain above seasonally expected levels. Other acute respiratory infection syndromic indicators are at or approaching seasonally expected levels. GP in-hours whooping cough and measles consultations remain above expected levels.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 16, NHS 111 acute respiratory infection calls decreased, with activity currently within seasonally expected levels. There were also decreases observed in NHS 111 online assessments for cold/flu, cough and sore throat.
Please note that recent updates to the NHS Pathways clinical tool used by NHS 111 have affected levels of certain syndromic indicators. As a result of these changes a selection of existing NHS 111 syndromic 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. NHS Pathways changes have also affected online assessments and the fever and difficulty breathing indicators have been temporarily removed from this report to avoid misinterpretation.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 16, GP in-hours consultations for lower respiratory tract infections decreased but remain above seasonally expected levels. Pneumonia consultations were stable overall but also remain above seasonally expected levels. Whooping cough and measles consultations remained above seasonally expected levels during week 16.
Access the GP in-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 16, GP out-of-hours contacts for acute respiratory infections, influenza-like illness and ‘difficulty breathing/wheeze/asthma’ all decreased are currently at seasonally expected levels.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 16 there were further decreases in ED attendances for acute respiratory infections, particularly in children, and attendances are currently at seasonally expected levels. Pneumonia attendances decreased overall, but remain higher than expected for the time of year. Pneumonia attendances in children aged 5 to 14 years also decreased, but again attendances remain higher than those levels expected.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 16, there were increases in daily ambulance calls for headache, injuries and ‘collapsed with unknown problem’.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK