Research and analysis

Syndromic surveillance summary: 28 July 2022 week 29

Updated 5 January 2023

Reporting week: 18 July to 24 July 2022

During week 29 there were large increases observed in 鈥榟eat impact鈥� syndromic indicators peaking in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Heat impact indicators have since returned to expected levels. There were further decreases noted in syndromic coronavirus (COVID-19)-type indicators across all regions and age groups.

Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system

NHS 111 calls and online assessments for 鈥榟eat exposure or sunburn鈥� peaked on 18 and 19 July in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat. Daily calls and assessments increased across all ages and regions before decreasing and returning to expected levels by 22 July. NHS 111 calls and online assessments for 鈥榩otential COVID-19鈥� continued to decrease during week 29.

GP in hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 29, GP consultations for 鈥榟eat or sunstroke鈥� increased, peaking in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Daily consultation rates have since returned to expected levels. GP 鈥楥OVID-19-like鈥� consultation rates decreased during week 29, as did GP consultations for pharyngitis or scarlet fever and chickenpox.

GP out of hours syndromic surveillance system

During week 29 there was a large increase in GP out-of-hours 鈥榟eat or sunstroke鈥� contacts, which peaked in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Please note: due to a technical issue GP out-of-hours contacts were not received from a number of out of hours providers during week 29 and therefore trends presented in this report should be interpreted with some caution. We are working to rectify this issue.

Emergency department syndromic surveillance system

During week 29, there were large increases observed in emergency department 鈥榟eat or sunstroke鈥� attendances in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat issued for 18 and 19 July. Attendances increased across all age groups and regions but have subsequently returned to expected levels. COVID-19-like attendances continued to decrease during week 29, across all age groups and regions.

Ambulance syndromic surveillance system

During week 29, there was a large spike in 鈥榠mpact of heat (or cold)鈥� ambulance calls on 18 and 19 July, in line with the Level 4 Heat-Health Alert for extreme heat. Daily calls subsequently decreased later in the week. There were also spikes in 鈥榰nconscious or passing out鈥�, 鈥榗ollapsed with unknown problem鈥� and 鈥榗ardiac and respiratory arrest鈥� calls, also associated with the period of extreme heat. These have since returned to expected levels.