Research and analysis

Syndromic surveillance summary: 5 June 2024 week 22

Updated 11 July 2024

Reporting week 22: 27 May to 2 June

During week 22, most syndromic respiratory indicators decreased or remained stable and at expected levels, however GP in-hours lower respiratory tract infection consultations and emergency department (ED) pneumonia attendances both remain above expected levels. Gastroenteritis indicators were generally stable during week 22, however activity remains elevated and above expected levels across selected systems. GP in-hours consultations for measles and whooping cough decreased but remain above expected levels.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system

During week 22, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for diarrhoea and vomiting were stable but remain above seasonally expected levels.

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.

Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins here

GP in hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 22, GP consultations for lower respiratory tract infections and pneumonia decreased, but both remain above levels expected for the time of year. Gastroenteritis and vomiting indicators decreased but remain above expected levels. There were also decreases observed in measles and whooping cough consultations during week 22, but both continue at above expected levels.

Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here

GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 22 there was a small increase in GP out-of-hours contacts for acute pharyngitis. Contacts for diarrhoea remain above expected levels but the current trend is stable.

Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here

Emergency department syndromic surveillance system

During week 22, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections continued to decrease in all age groups but overall, attendances remain above seasonally expected levels. Pneumonia attendances also decreased, particularly in children aged 5 to 14 years, but overall attendances remain above levels expected for the time of year. There was a slight increase in COVID-19-like attendances during week 22, particularly in the over 65 years age group. Scarlet fever attendances continued to decrease but remain above seasonally expected levels.

Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins here

Ambulance syndromic surveillance system

During week 22, there was an increase in ambulance calls for ‘impact of heat or cold’, particularly in the East of England on Sunday 2 June. There was also an increase in ‘cardiac or respiratory arrest’ calls in the West Midlands on 2 June. Difficulty breathing calls decreased but remain just above expected levels.

Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins here