Syndromic surveillance summary: 13 June 2024 week 23
Updated 19 December 2024
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Reporting week 23: 3 June to 9 June
During week 23 most syndromic respiratory indicators remained at seasonally expected levels. However, GP in-hours lower respiratory tract infection consultations and emergency department (ED) pneumonia attendances both continued to be at above expected levels. GP in-hours consultations for measles and whooping cough decreased slightly but remained above expected levels. There were increases observed in GP in-hours consultations for allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and NHS 111 calls for eye problems, but all were within expected limits and consistent with seasonally expected grass pollen activity.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 23 NHS 111 calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections continued to decrease. Calls and online assessments for diarrhoea and vomiting were stable nationally but remained above seasonally expected levels. There was an increase in calls for eye problems during week 23, mainly in the 5 to 14 and 15 to 44 years age groups, consistent with seasonally expected grass pollen activity.
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 23 GP consultations for lower respiratory tract infections decreased, while pneumonia consultations were stable, however both remained above levels expected for the time of year. Gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and vomiting indicators were stable but also remained above expected levels. There were small decreases observed in consultations for measles and whooping cough, but overall they continued at above expected levels. Conjunctivitis consultations increased during week 23, particularly observed in the 5-14 years age group, and there was also an increase in allergic rhinitis, both consistent with seasonally expected grass pollen activity.
GP in-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 23 GP out-of-hours respiratory infection indicators continued to decrease and remained in line with seasonal expectations. Contacts for diarrhoea remained above expected levels but the current trend is stable. Contacts for insect bites increased slightly during week 23 but remained below seasonally expected levels.
GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance bulletins
Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 23 emergency department attendances for acute respiratory infections continued to decrease nationally but remained above baseline levels. Pneumonia attendances were stable however levels continued to be above expected for the time of year. Scarlet fever attendances remained stable during week 23 although there was an increase noted over the weekend of 6 to 7 June.
Emergency department syndromic surveillance bulletins
Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 23 ambulance calls for difficulty breathing decreased and are now approaching baseline levels. There was a small increase in ‘collapsed with unknown problem’ and ‘allergic reaction’ calls during week 23 but both remain within expected levels.