‘Govt must recognise there will be no elective recovery without emergency care recovery’ – SAM past president (05 December)

Commenting today (05 December) on the Prime Minister’s speech outlining priorities for the NHS and NHS England’s warning about winter pressures, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Pressures throughout the system are perfectly and bleakly illustrated in urgent and emergency care where patients experience appalling conditions and prolonged waits – it is an ongoing crisis which remains far from being resolved effectively.

“There is insufficient workforce and capacity to meet the demands of an increasingly ageing population with multiple health issues and the fact is there is simply no resilience to cope with any excess strain.  

“The extra cases of winter viruses, such as COVID, flu and RSV, mean many hospitals will fall into critical incidents given the relentless challenges we have faced all year round. 

“Despite the positive rhetoric around tackling waiting lists, our concern is that the government continues to avoid acknowledging overtly that there will be no elective recovery without emergency care recovery.  

“The two are dependent and need a coherent, co-ordinated approach that focuses on increasing capacity and workforce throughout the system. Reducing waiting lists and releasing pressure on urgent and emergency care will only happen if this is understood and actioned.

“Any plan that does not address these fundamental issues will undoubtedly fail, further increasing the misery of patients waiting prolonged periods for elective procedures and those experiencing appalling overcrowded conditions in emergency care.”