Syndromic surveillance summary: 8 December 2022 week 48
Updated 5 January 2023
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Reporting week 48: 28 November to 4 December 2022
During week 48, GP consultation rates for scarlet fever increased sharply, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years, and are above seasonally expected levels. There were continued increases observed across a range of respiratory indicators in all syndromic systems including emergency department (ED) attendances for influenza-like illness, which are now above seasonally expected levels.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 48, large increases were observed in NHS 111 total calls and online assessments in the 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years age groups. Also in those age groups, increases were noted across a range of respiratory indicators including cold and flu, cough, difficulty breathing and sore throat. NHS 111 calls and assessments for cold and flu were seen to increase across other adult age groups, in addition to children.
Please note: the widespread national media coverage of the ‘group A strep’ incident reported over the weekend is likely to have increased the volume of NHS 111 calls and online assessments, particularly for children with respiratory symptoms.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 48, GP in-hours consultation rates for scarlet fever and ‘pharyngitis or scarlet fever’ increased nationally and particularly among the 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 year age groups. Consultation rates for influenza-like illness increased and are now just above seasonally expected levels. Upper and lower respiratory tract infections continued to increase across all age groups and regions.
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 48, there were further increases in attendances for influenza-like illness across all age groups and regions. Acute respiratory infection attendances also increased, particularly in the 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years age groups. Acute bronchiolitis attendances stabilised in the under 1 and 1 to 4 years age groups. COVID-19-like attendances remained stable across all age groups during week 48.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 48, ambulance dispatch calls for ‘difficulty breathing’ increased, particularly during the weekend of 3 to 4 December.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK.