Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to accurately measure the impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus hospitalisations on the NHS.

There is a national response and governance in place to manage surges in paediatric respiratory infections, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This includes monitoring of relevant data on RSV prevalence and hospital activity and a coordinated approach with the devolved administrations.

Sentinel surveillance of RSV cases was established in May 2021 to expand sample testing and provide an early warning system. The surveillance data is being reviewed on a weekly basis by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England and NHS Improvement. Through the Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Watch programme, the UKHSA undertakes surveillance of hospitalisations with confirmed RSV infection to sentinel National Health Service hospital trusts in England, including intensive care admissions.

A Paediatric Incident Cell has been established within NHS England and NHS Improvement to manage the RSV response and monitor pressures on local services with a national Critical Care Capacity Panel (CCCP). Weekly surveillance data, daily data on hospital activity, general and acute as well as paediatric intensive care bed occupancy, is being monitored as part of the CCCP and the Paediatric Incident Cell.