The Development and Growth of the English National Real-Time Syndromic Surveillance Program: Key Developments and...

Area of Science:

• Public Health Surveillance
• Health Informatics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Syndromic surveillance is vital for monitoring diverse public health hazards.
• Establishing these systems faces challenges like data integration, security, cost, and evolving technologies.
• The UK Health Security Agency's English real-time syndromic surveillance service has operated for over two decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of England's real-time syndromic surveillance service from 1998 to 2018.
• To identify key themes crucial for ensuring a sustainable and effective syndromic surveillance service.
• To provide recommendations for establishing and managing robust syndromic surveillance systems.

Main Methods:

• The study analyzed the development of the UK Health Security Agency's syndromic surveillance service over three distinct periods: 1998-2005, 2006-2011, and 2012-2018.
• Semistructured interviews were conducted with current and former senior members of the syndromic surveillance team.
• Interviewees provided insights into development drivers, team dynamics, system evolution, and the utilization of surveillance outputs.

Main Results:

• Key themes emerging from the development include successful integration into the public health system.
• Creativity, strong collaboration, effective leadership, perseverance, and agility in adapting to new threats were highlighted.
• The study identified critical factors for the success and utility of real-time syndromic surveillance systems.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable syndromic surveillance relies on a focus on public health questions, strong relationships, and effective teamwork.
• Adaptability and integration are crucial for navigating technological advancements and evolving threats.
• The findings offer valuable insights and recommendations for developing and maintaining effective public health surveillance systems globally.