Following the release on the latest NHS performance data today, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “When we talk about the NHS at the moment, all we can say and see is pressure, pressure and more pressure – the system is on a knife-edge. “This week alone frontline staff from […]

A leading doctor has warned hospitals across the NHS could be “jammed full” as early as tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said colder weather and snow forecast across the country alongside increasingly high bed occupancy was “deeply concerning”. “Last week we saw bed occupancy figures published showing […]

Commenting on a report released today (Thursday) by NHS Providers on preparations for extra winter pressures, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “While staff on the frontline will, as always, pull out all the stops to provide safe care, the fact remains the NHS is 1,400 beds short of what […]

Following the chancellor’s budget announcement of an extra £2.8 billion in funding for the NHS which includes £350 million for this winter, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The additional £350 million will just about cover agency spend this winter if it has not already been earmarked or spent by trusts […]

Commenting on an analysis by the Health Foundation which suggests at least £360m extra funding may be needed for the NHS to meet the four-hour A&E target this winter, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The NHS has not recovered from last winter and we have a disillusioned workforce being […]

A top doctor has said there is a “culture of isolation” among medical and healthcare bodies which could send the NHS into chaos this winter. Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said there were multiple groups trying to “solve” winter pressures but “nothing joined up” – with direction from the secretary […]

Commenting on figures which show the number of patients in England being readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge has risen by nearly a quarter in the last four years, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These figures are worrying and follow quickly on the heels of failures to […]

A leading doctor has warned the NHS could “break far worse” this winter as the system faces the prospect of a major flu outbreak. Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), said despite much talk nationally of adequate preparations, frontline staff feel there is “nothing new other than crossed fingers”. He […]

Following publication of a study in the BMJ Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health which suggests the rise in mortality rates since 2015 could be explained by changes in the number of delayed discharges of NHS patients, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We, along with many other health professionals, […]

Following a report released today by the King’s Fund on declining bed numbers in the NHS, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Bed reduction and fast turnover is a major risk to patients across the NHS, with hospital-acquired infection rates increased by over-occupancy and quick turnarounds. “This ultimately leads to […]

Following a report released today by the Royal College of Nursing on nursing shortages in the NHS, Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This report provides stark reading but it certainly comes as no surprise to those of us on the ground. “There is an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis […]

Statement regarding NHS performance data released today by NHS England which shows the number of patients waiting for surgery is at its highest level since 2007. Dr Mark Holland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This shocking figure is another damning indictment of the crisis we are experiencing in the NHS and is […]

Dr Mark Holland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, comments in The Guardian on Labour’s request for the National Audit Office to look into the sale of government-owned recruitment firm NHS Professionals. He said: “During its history the NHS has always been subject to change. “With Brexit looming and fundamental changes on the horizon, […]

Figures released today by NHS Digital show there were 86,055 advertised full-time vacancies in the NHS in the first quarter of 2017 compared with 78,112 in the same period last year (NHS Digital). In addition, figures for NHS England show that, in March, there were 30,613 vacant full-time equivalent positions advertised, compared to 26,424 in […]

A leading doctor has called on the government to “stop disincentivising” NHS staff with pay restraint and increasing target-led pressures. Dr Mark Holland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), said although financial rewards were not the only issue to encourage the workforce to remain, “salaries must be fair”. He spoke out following Downing […]

Doctors working in acute medicine have painted a “worrying” picture of the NHS in a survey reported today (Friday) by the Society for Acute Medicine. The body, which represents more than 1,000 clinicians who deal with patients who present to hospital with medical emergencies, surveyed its membership ahead of its spring meeting in Cardiff. Nearly […]

Commenting on today’s release of NHS performance data for February 2017, Dr Mark Holland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Over the last three winters the NHS has witnessed a dramatic decline in its ability to meet performance targets. “The targets have often been criticised in failing to reflect the granularity of health […]