Syndromic surveillance summary: 4 July 2024 week 26
Updated 5 July 2024
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0.1 Reporting week 26: 24 June to 30 June
During week 26 there were increases observed across all syndromic surveillance systems for ‘impact of heat’ indicators in line with the Yellow Heat-Health Alert in place over most of England during the reporting week. However, daily activity had returned to expected levels by the weekend of 29 to 30 June. Emergency department (ED) COVID-19-like attendances stabilised during week 26 while GP in-hours consultations continued to increase.
1. Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 26, NHS 111 calls and online assessments for ‘heat exposure or sunburn’ increased sharply coinciding with the Yellow Heat-Health Alert, however daily calls and assessments had returned to expected levels by the weekend of 29 to 30 June. There was a small increase in vomiting calls, particularly in children aged under 5 years and activity continued at above expected levels 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.
Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
2. GP in hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 26, GP consultation rates for allergic rhinitis peaked on Monday 22 June, however rates were lower during the latter part of the week suggesting an overall peak in seasonal activity. There was also an increase in consultations for ‘heat or sunstroke’ in line with the Yellow Heat-Health Alert, however rates decreased towards the end of the week. COVID-19-like consultation rates continued to increase during week 26, across all age groups.
Access the GP in hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
3. GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 26, GP out-of-hours contacts for ‘heat or sunstroke’ increased in line with the Yellow Heat-Health Alert, however daily contacts had returned to expected levels by the weekend of 29 to 30 June.
Access the GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
4. Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 26, ED attendances for ‘heat or sunstroke’ increased sharply in line with the Yellow Heat-Health Alert, however daily attendances had returned to expected levels by the weekend of 29 to 30 June. COVID-19-like ED attendances stabilised nationally and across most age groups. Attendances for gastroenteritis increased, notably in children aged less than 5 years. There was also an increase in attendances for alcohol intoxication during the weekend of 29 to 30 June.
Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins here.
5. Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 26, daily ambulance calls for ‘impact of heat or cold’ increased in line with the Yellow Heat-Health Alert but returned to expected level by the end of the reporting week.