Syndromic surveillance summary: 5 October 2023 week 39
Updated 4 January 2024
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Reporting week 39: 25 September to 1 October 2023
During week 39, there were further increases observed in emergency department COVID-19-like attendances and NHS 111 ‘potential COVID-19’ calls. Other syndromic acute respiratory infection indicators, including NHS 111 cold and flu calls and GP in-hours upper respiratory tract infection consultations, increased in line with seasonal expectations. Emergency department (ED) acute bronchiolitis attendances continued to increase in children aged under 5 years, again in line with expected seasonal trends.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for respiratory indicators increased in line with seasonal expectations. Cold and flu calls and assessments increased with calls increasing particularly in children aged 1 to 4 years and adult age groups (15 years and over). Calls and online assessments for ‘potential COVID-19’ increased nationally, with calls increasing in adult age groups. Calls for difficulty breathing have stabilised overall following recent ‘return to school’ increases in children. Calls and assessments for vomiting increased during week 39.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, there were further increases in GP in-hours consultations for upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in children aged under 15 years, but in line with seasonally expected trends. There were also increases observed in influenza-like illness consultations, however these increases were small and within seasonal expectations.
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 39, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections increased in line with seasonally expected trends, with increases particularly noted in children aged under 5 years. ED COVID-19-like attendances continued to increase across most age groups. Attendances for acute bronchiolitis continued to increase in children aged under 1 year and aged 1 to 4 years, in line with seasonal expectations.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, daily ambulance calls for difficulty breathing remained stable nationally but above baseline levels. Please note that due to technical issues during week 39, data were missing from two ambulance trusts and therefore the data and trends presented in this report should be interpreted with some caution.
Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on GOV.UK