Syndromic surveillance summary: 1 December 2022 week 47
Updated 5 January 2023
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Reporting week 47: 21 November to 27 November 2022
During week 47 there were continued increases observed in a range of respiratory indicators across all syndromic systems. Of note, there were further increases in emergency department (ED) attendances for influenza-like illness and acute bronchiolitis in children aged less than 1 year. There were also increases noted in GP consultations for scarlet fever (in children) during week 47, with consultation rates currently above seasonally expected levels.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 47, there were large increases noted in NHS 111 calls and online assessments across a range of respiratory indicators including cold and flu, cough, difficulty breathing and sore throat. Increases were observed particularly in the 5 to 14 years age group, but with other ages groups also increasing. There were also further increases in ‘potential COVID-19’ calls and online assessments during week 47, with calls increasing mainly in the 5 to 14 years age group.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 47, GP in-hours consultation rates for upper and lower respiratory tract infections both increased, particularly in children, but now also in adult age groups. Influenza-like-illness increased, most notably in the 5 to 14 and 15 to 44 years age groups. ‘Pharyngitis or scarlet fever’ and scarlet fever both increased during week 47, particularly in children and with rates currently above seasonally expected levels.
Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.
GP out of hours syndromic surveillance system
Daily GP out-of-hours contact data from 4 August 2022 onwards has not been received due to a widely publicised disruption faced by one of the GP out-of-hours clinical software system providers. We have since been informed that this disruption was as a result of a cybersecurity incident caused by ransomware. We are working closely with our data provider to restore the daily syndromic feed.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 47, there were further increases in attendances for acute respiratory infections, with increases particularly observed in the 5 to 14 years age group. Daily attendances for influenza-like-illness increased sharply across all age groups above 5 years of age. Overall, acute bronchiolitis attendances continued to increase in the less than 1 and 1 to 4 years age groups. COVID-19-like attendances remained stable across all age groups during week 47.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 47, ambulance calls for difficulty breathing, chest pain and ‘cardiac or respiratory arrest’ continued to increase. Syndromic ambulance calls for injuries also increased during week 47.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.