Research and analysis

Syndromic surveillance summary: 26 January 2023 week 3

Updated 4 January 2024

Reporting week 3: 16 January to 22 January 2023

During week 3, emergency department (ED) attendances and GP consultation rates for influenza-like illness decreased further nationally across all age groups. There were also further decreases in coronavirus (COVID-19)-like indicators. Overall, across all syndromic systems, there were small increases observed in respiratory indicators in children aged 1 to 4 years, in line with seasonal expectations. ED attendances and GP consultation rates for scarlet fever remained stable during week 3 but activity remains above seasonally expected levels.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system

During week 3, most respiratory indicators including cold and flu, cough and ‘potential COVID-19’ decreased and are at or below seasonally expected levels. However, there were some small increases noted in respiratory calls in children aged 1 to 4 years and aged 5 to 14 years. Sore throat calls continued to decrease during week 3, however they remain above seasonally expected levels.

Access the remote health advice syndromic surveillance bulletins on ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥.

GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 3, GP in-hours consultation rates for respiratory infection indicators decreased overall nationally. However, there were small increases observed in children aged 1 to 4 years for upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Scarlet fever consultations remained stable overall during week 3 but are still above seasonally expected levels, with a small increase noted in children aged 1 to 4 years.

Access the GP in-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins on ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥.

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 ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥.

Emergency department syndromic surveillance system

During week 3, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections (ARI) and influenza-like illness continued to decrease, remaining just above seasonally expected levels. There were small increases observed in the group of those aged 1 to 4 years for total ED attendances, ARI and acute bronchiolitis in line with seasonal expectations. There were further decreases in COVID-19-like attendances across all age groups. ED attendances for scarlet fever remained stable during week 3 but at levels above those expected for the time of year.

Access the emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins on ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥.

Ambulance syndromic surveillance system

During week 3, there were small increases in ambulance calls for ‘impact of heat or cold’ and ‘injuries’ coinciding with a Level 3 - Cold Weather Action alert that is currently in place across England.

Access the ambulance syndromic surveillance bulletins on ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥.