Syndromic surveillance summary: 4 January 2026 week 1
Published 8 January 2026
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Reporting week 1: 29 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
During week 1 there were continued decreases in syndromic indicators for influenza-like illness (ILI). However, ED acute respiratory infection attendances and GP in hours consultations for upper and lower respiratory tract infections there were increases observed in adults aged 45 years and over. During week 1, ‘impact of cold’ indicators in the ED and ambulance systems increased in line with the recent amber level cold health alerts in place over England.
Note: week 1 includes a public holiday when access to health services can change. Data and trends presented in the syndromic bulletins for week 1 should therefore be interpreted with some caution.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 1, NHS 111 triaged calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections remained broadly stable however there were increases noted in ARI calls and assessments in adult age groups, particularly those aged 45 years and over.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins
GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 1, the GP in hours consultation rate for influenza-like illness (ILI) continued to decrease nationally but remained above seasonally expected levels. ILI decreased in children and younger adults, remained stable in the 45 to 64 years age group, but increased in adults aged 65 years and over. There was a decrease in upper respiratory tract infections, while lower respiratory tract infections increased; however, for both indicators there was a further increase in the 65 years and over age group. In addition, during week 1 there were also increases noted in the 65 years and over age group for acute presenting asthma, pneumonia and acute bronchitis.
Access the GP in-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 1, GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infections (ARI) decreased overall however there were increases in ARI noted in adults aged 45 years and over. ILI contacts remained stable but above expected levels. There was an increase in ‘chest pain (including myocardial infarction)’ contacts during week 1 (peaking on 3 January) in adults aged 15 to 44 years.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 1 there was a further overall decrease in acute respiratory infections (ARI) attendances, however attendances increased and remained elevated in adults aged 45 years and over. There was a further decrease in influenza-like illness (ILI) attendances, with decreases observed across all age groups. Pneumonia attendances remained elevated, particularly in the age groups 45 years and over. ‘Acute bronchiolitis or bronchitis’ attendances remained stable overall during week 1; attendances decreased in children aged 1 to 4 years but remained elevated in the under 1 year age group. There was an increase in ‘impact of cold’ attendances, peaking on Friday 2 January, in line with the recent amber level cold health weather alerts in place over England.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 1, daily ambulance dispatch calls for ‘impact of heat or cold’ increased, consistent with the amber level cold health alert in place across England. Ambulance calls for difficulty breathing remained stable.