Syndromic surveillance summary: 31 August 2023 week 34
Updated 4 January 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/syndromic-surveillance-weekly-summaries-for-2023/syndromic-surveillance-summary-31-august-2023-week-34
Reporting week 34: 21 August to 28 August 2023
During week 34, there were increases in emergency department (ED) COVID-19-like attendances, however activity decreased over the weekend. In general, other syndromic respiratory indicators are at seasonally expected levels. NHS 111 calls and GP-in hours consultations for insect bites increased during week 34 and are above seasonally expected levels.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
NHS 111 total calls and online assessments increased over the August bank holiday weekend (particularly Monday 28 August) in line with activity expected for a public holiday. During week 34, calls for insect bites increased and remain above seasonally expected levels. NHS 111 calls and online assessments for ‘heat exposure or sunburn’ had increased during week 34, however activity is now returning to expected levels.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 34, GP in-hours consultation rates for insect bites continued to increase, particularly in adults, and remain 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 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
COVID-19-like ED attendances increased during week 34, however attendances decreased over the bank holiday weekend. ED attendances for acute respiratory infections decreased during week 34 and are at seasonally expected levels.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 34, ambulance calls for chest pain decreased. There was an increase in ‘overdose/ingestion/poisoning’ calls reported on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August. Please note that due to a technical issue, call data for Yorkshire and Humber were not available for 24 to 28 August and are therefore not presented in the week 34 report. Data for South Central Ambulance Service was not available for 28 August and therefore trends for the South East region should be interpreted with caution.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK