Syndromic surveillance summary: 1 May 2024 week 17
Updated 16 May 2024
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Reporting week 17: 22 April to 28 April
During week 17 there were further decreases observed in GP in-hours lower respiratory tract infection and pneumonia consultation rates, although emergency department (ED) pneumonia attendances remained stable. All, however, remain above seasonally expected levels. Other acute respiratory infection syndromic indicators are at or approaching seasonally expected levels but there were small increases observed in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. GP in-hours whooping cough and measles consultations remain above expected levels, but further increases were observed in whooping cough rates.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 17, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections increased slightly in children aged less than 15 years although activity remains within seasonally expected levels. NHS 111 calls for diarrhoea and vomiting increased with increases particularly noted in children aged 1 to 4 years.
Please note that recent updates to the NHS Pathways clinical tool used by NHS 111 have affected the reported levels of certain syndromic indicators. As a result of these changes all individual 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.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins here
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 17, there was a small increase in GP in-hours consultation rates for upper respiratory tract infections in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. Lower respiratory tract infections and pneumonia both decreased but remain above seasonally expected levels. There was a further increase in the consultation rate for whooping cough and rates remain above expected levels. The measles consultation rate decreased during week 17 but remains above expected levels.
Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 17, GP out-of-hours contacts for acute respiratory infections increased slightly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. There was also a small increase observed in influenza-like illness contacts. Daily contacts for gastroenteritis and vomiting increased during week 17, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 years.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 17 there was a small increase in attendances for acute respiratory infections, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to14 years. There was also a small increase in COVID-19-like attendances in the 15 to 44 years age group. Pneumonia attendances remained stable overall but continue at above seasonally expected levels. There was an increase in scarlet fever attendances particularly seen in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years; activity is above based levels but lower than that observed over recent months.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins here
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 17, there was a small increase in ambulance calls for difficulty breathing, calls remain above seasonally expected levels.