Syndromic surveillance summary: 4 May 2023 week 17
Updated 4 January 2024
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Reporting week 17: 24 April to 30 April 2023
During week 17, there were increases observed in certain syndromic surveillance systems in line with expected changes in healthcare access over the extended public holiday weekend. There were small increases noted in syndromic indicators for scarlet fever (GP in-hours consultations and emergency department (ED) attendances). However, levels remain just above or below seasonal expectations.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
Total NHS 111 calls and online assessments increased over the public holiday weekend during week 17, in line with expected activity. Trends presented in this report should therefore be interpreted with some caution. There were small increases observed in NHS 111 calls for diarrhoea and vomiting in children aged 1 to 4 years.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 17, GP in-hours consultation rates for COVID-19-like illness decreased further, while other respiratory consultations remained stable. There was a small increase in scarlet fever consultations; however, rates are below 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 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 17, COVID-19-like ED attendances remained stable overall, but there was an increase observed over the public holiday weekend. There was also a small increase noted in scarlet fever attendances during week 17.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 17, there were increases noted in daily ambulance calls for ‘unconscious or passing out’, ‘collapsed with unknown problem’, ‘allergic reactions’ and ‘overdose or ingestion or poisoning’. These increases occurred over the public holiday weekend and have since returned to expected levels.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK