Syndromic surveillance summary: 28 September 2023 week 38
Updated 4 January 2024
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Reporting week 38: 18 September to 24 September 2023
During week 38, there were increases in acute respiratory infection and difficulty breathing syndromic indicators in children aged under 15 years, following expected seasonal trends. Emergency department (ED) attendances for acute bronchiolitis increased in children aged under 5 years, again in line with expected trends. There were also further increases observed in emergency department COVID-19-like attendances.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 38, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for cold and flu, cough and difficulty breathing increased, particularly in children under the age of 15. National trends for these indicators are in line with seasonal expectations. Calls and online assessments for ‘potential COVID-19’ also increased nationally, with calls particularly increasing in children aged 5 to 14 years.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 38, there were increases in GP in-hours consultations for upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract infections, in line with seasonally expected trends but particularly observed in children aged under 15 years. Diarrhoea and vomiting consultations increased during week 38 with increases seen across all age groups.
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 was not received from 4 August 2022 until 31 March 2023 due to technical problems. We have been working closely with our data provider and the daily syndromic feed recommenced on 1 April 2023. We are currently evaluating the daily data received and will resume publication of the weekly bulletin when this process is complete.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 38, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections increased, particularly in children aged under 15 years, following seasonally expected trends. ED attendances for acute bronchiolitis increased in children aged under 1 and 1 to 4 years. Asthma attendances continued to increase in children aged 1 to 4 years and 5 to 14 years following the recent return to school. ED COVID-19-like attendances continued to increase during week 38.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 38, ambulance calls for difficulty breathing increased in line with seasonally expected trends but remaining above baseline levels.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK