Research and analysis

Syndromic surveillance summary: 18 July 2024 week 28

Updated 19 December 2024

Reporting week 28: 8 July to 14 July.

During week 28 there were increases reported in COVID-19-like emergency department (ED) attendances and GP in-hours consultations; increases were particularly seen across adult age groups. Impact of heat syndromic indicators were stable and below seasonally expected levels. GP in-hours consultations for allergic rhinitis continued to decrease in line with expected trends.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system

During week 28, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for ‘heat exposure or sunburn’ remained stable and below seasonally expected levels. There was a small increase in calls and online assessments for insect bites, but again activity remained below levels expected for the time of year.

Please note that recent updates to the NHS Pathways clinical tool used by NHS 111 have affected the reported levels of certain syndromic indicators. As a result of these changes all individual respiratory indicators have been removed from this report and replaced with a generic ‘acute respiratory infections’ calls indicator. Please see the bulletin for further information.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins

GP in hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 28 there was an increase in GP in hours COVID-19-like consultations nationally with increases observed particularly in adults aged 45 years and older. Other respiratory indicators remained stable or decreased however there was a small increase in pneumonia consultations, particularly in adults aged 65 years and older, with rates continuing to be above expected levels. Allergic rhinitis consultations decreased further during week 28 following the expected seasonal baseline.

GP-in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins

GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 28, daily contacts for gastroenteritis and diarrhoea decreased but remained above seasonally expected levels. Contacts for ‘heat or sunstroke’ were stable and below levels expected for the time of year.

GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins

Emergency department syndromic surveillance system

During week 28 there was a further increase in the daily number of ED attendances for COVID-19-like, particularly in the age groups 45 years and over. Acute respiratory infection and pneumonia attendances continued to decrease however both remained above seasonally expected levels. ED attendances for ‘heat or sunstroke’ were stable during week 28 and remain below levels expected for the time of year.

Emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins

Ambulance syndromic surveillance system

During week 28, daily ambulance calls for allergic reactions increased over the weekend of 13 to 14 July but calls remained below seasonally expected levels. Calls for ‘impact of heat or cold’ remained below levels expected for the time of year.

Ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins