RSC: Public health data

Introduction

The Oxford-RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) has been the primary source for surveillance in England for over 60 years. The core surveillance and vaccine effectiveness work is mainly funded by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), with other research and surveillance conducted in collaboration with a range of organisations, some working across Europe.

Communicable and respiratory disease reports

Using the data collected from our network of practices, the Centre publishes a weekly report on communicable and respiratory diseases in England. The report includes data broken down by region and age band for incidences of influenza-like illness (ILI) and other respiratory diseases, as well as information on environmentally sensitive and water and food-borne disorders.

If you would like to receive a weekly email brief on communicable and respiratory disease presenting to general practice, please contact practiceenquiries@phc.ox.ac.uk.

Virology and serology sampling data

Every year a selection of network RSC practices opt in to take part in the Influenza virology scheme. These practices collect nasopharyngeal samples from patients clinically suspected of having flu. The Centre has carried out this role in collaboration with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and its predecessor organisations since the early 1990s. Its role is primarily to confirm cases of influenza, but also to look at the impact of other diseases, and to characterise more vulnerable populations.

Practices and patients will receive results for the following viruses:

• SARS-CoV-2 (sent direct to patient as well as practice)
• Influenza A and B (sent direct to patient as well as practice)
• RSV A and B
• hMPV
• Adenovirus

To further support study vaccine effectiveness and immunity, select network practices participate in our year-round serology sampling. They are asked to take an additional sample from any patient attending for a routine blood test.

Participating practices are provided with the necessary sampling kits and training required to carry out this service.

Impact

The RSC data is used by UKHSA to support disease outbreak detection and management. For instance, the RSC has been an important data source during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our sampling practices, the RSC was able to detect a case of Influenza A(H1N2)v - a virus similar to flu viruses that were circulating in pigs in the UK at the time. This case was the first detection of this strain of flu in a human in the UK.

Virology Observatory

We also provide dashboards for national and regional insights which we call observatories. This aims to provide feedback on care and prevention, improve data quality and monitor prescribing. It integrates large primary care data, and virology sample data, into a simpler and more accessible format.

Transparency statement

The Oxford-RCGP RSC, through its weekly upload of pseudonymised data, is the principal primary care surveillance system across England. RCGP and the University of Oxford are data processers of the Disease Surveillance Programme. The information technology, analysis capability, and clinical leadership of the Oxford-RCGP RSC are based at the University of Oxford. The ORCHID database is compliant with Article 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests) under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the use of personal data, and Articles 6(1e) and 9(2)(j) in the use of special category sensitive data (such as health data).

To find out more information about what data are collected, what is the data extraction process, and how data are kept safe, please visit the Privacy Notice page on the ORCHID website.

Report archive

Annual reports

The Centre publishes an annual report which summarises the trends of communicable and respiratory diseases for the past year.

Weekly reports

Historical RSC reports