Syndromic surveillance summary: 6 October 2022 week 39
Updated 5 January 2023
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Reporting week: 26 September to 2 October 2022
During week 39, there were further national increases in syndromic indicators for respiratory infections, including increases observed in coronavirus (COVID-19)-type indicators particularly in adults aged over 65 years. The recent increases in asthma indicators observed in children aged 5 to 14 years have now decreased in line with seasonally expected trends.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for cold/flu, cough and difficulty breathing continued to increase with calls/assessments in general stabilising in children aged 5 to 14 years but increasing in adults. Calls and online assessments for ‘potential COVID-19’ increased in adults aged 15 years and over.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, GP in-hours consultations for upper and lower respiratory tract infections continued to increase nationally across all age groups, in line with seasonal expectations. There were further small increases in COVID-19-like consultations, particularly in adults. ‘Pharyngitis or scarlet fever’ and scarlet fever consultations increased in week 39 particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years, in line with seasonally expected trends.
Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
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 here.
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, emergency department attendances for acute respiratory infections increased. COVID-19-like attendances increased particularly in adults aged 45 to 64 and over 65 years. Attendances for pneumonia also increased during week 39 but remain in line with expected seasonal trends. The recent increases in asthma attendances observed in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years have now decreased in line with seasonal expectations.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, COVID-19-like ambulance calls remained stable while calls for difficulty breathing and ‘cardiac or respiratory arrest’ increased.