Syndromic surveillance summary: 28 July 2022 week 29
Updated 5 January 2023
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Reporting week: 18 July to 24 July 2022
During week 29 there were large increases observed in ‘heat impact’ syndromic indicators peaking in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Heat impact indicators have since returned to expected levels. There were further decreases noted in syndromic coronavirus (COVID-19)-type indicators across all regions and age groups.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
NHS 111 calls and online assessments for ‘heat exposure or sunburn’ peaked on 18 and 19 July in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat. Daily calls and assessments increased across all ages and regions before decreasing and returning to expected levels by 22 July. NHS 111 calls and online assessments for ‘potential COVID-19’ continued to decrease during week 29.
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 29, GP consultations for ‘heat or sunstroke’ increased, peaking in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Daily consultation rates have since returned to expected levels. GP ‘COVID-19-like’ consultation rates decreased during week 29, as did GP consultations for pharyngitis or scarlet fever and chickenpox.
GP out of hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 29 there was a large increase in GP out-of-hours ‘heat or sunstroke’ contacts, which peaked in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Please note: due to a technical issue GP out-of-hours contacts were not received from a number of out of hours providers during week 29 and therefore trends presented in this report should be interpreted with some caution. We are working to rectify this issue.
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 29, there were large increases observed in emergency department ‘heat or sunstroke’ attendances in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Attendances increased across all age groups and regions but have subsequently returned to expected levels. COVID-19-like attendances continued to decrease during week 29, across all age groups and regions.
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 29, there was a large spike in ‘impact of heat (or cold)’ ambulance calls on 18 and 19 July, in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat. Daily calls subsequently decreased later in the week. There were also spikes in ‘unconscious or passing out’, ‘collapsed with unknown problem’ and ‘cardiac and respiratory arrest’ calls, also associated with the period of extreme heat. These have since returned to expected levels.