’Perfect storm of events may make this winter worse’ – SAM president
Commenting on figures released by the Royal College for Emergency Medicine today (25 September) which showed 399,908 people waited 24 hours or more in an emergency department in England in 2022/23, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data is a further illustration of the appalling experiences and harm for patients that occurred last year in urgent and emergency care. This particularly impacts older and acute medical patients.
“Whilst this data is from last year it is highly likely to be replicated this year. There is a perfect storm of events which may make this winter even worse – a terrifying thought for staff and patients alike.
“We are behind on the agreed winter plan. We will inevitably be back in a situation where we face calls for national major incident type plans in a few months. Clinical staff and patients remain energised to change to achieve this: government must recognise this.”
More from SAM
More news, statements and updates from the Society for Acute Medicine.
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“13% rise in 12-hour waits should set alarm bells ringing” – SAM president (08 October)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (08 October) Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “A 13% year-on-year rise in 12-hour emergency department waits as winter approaches should set alarm bells ringing. “More than 50,000 patients waited over 12 hours from the decision to admit to admission in…
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“Sustained pressure increases risk” – SAM immediate past president (27 September)
Commenting in an article in The Sun on a rise in clinical negligence claims against A&E departments, Dr Nick Murch, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Rising demand, overcrowding, long waits and staff shortages all create a more difficult environment in which to deliver safe, timely care. “Reduced bed capacity can…
Society for Acute Medicine
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