SAM president warns of “worrying” trend of patients avoiding NHS urgent and emergency care services (23 February)

Commenting on polling for The Guardian which highlights high levels of public fear and alarm about NHS urgent and emergency care not being available they need it, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said:

“It is worrying to hear a trend that patients may be considering avoiding NHS services due to perceived long waits, but it is understandable given the scenes portrayed in emergency care, as well as some people’s experiences of accessing healthcare.

“There is a growing concern among clinicians about people feeling sick at home but not coming to hospital as they are frightened about long waits to be seen, or possibly corridor care, and as a result coming to harm due to delayed – or even non-attendance – with urgent problems.

“If patients present late in the course of their illness, then this may adversely put more pressure on the NHS.

“Although under immense strain, urgent and emergency services remain open for all patients who are seriously unwell, and healthcare professionals will continue to work as hard as possible despite the difficult circumstances being experienced and the constraints of a chronically pressured and under-funded system.

“Fundamentally, until action is taken to address issues around capacity, workforce, hospital discharge and social care provision, these concerns will continue and will affect people’s trust in the NHS services to deliver the timely, safe and high quality care they should rightly expect.”