News
‘Data lays bare dire state of affairs’ – SAM past president (13 February)
Commenting on the release today (13 February) of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The latest performance data lays bare the dire state of affairs in the NHS with record numbers of patients waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments. “Nearly 2,000…
Read MoreAcute Medicine – Strengthening the Foundations
Acute medicine, founded in 2000, is a specialty which delivers immediate and early specialist management of adult patients requiring urgent or emergency care for one or more of a wide range of medical conditions. Patients cared for via an Acute Medical Unit (AMU) demonstrate a reduced length of stay and mortality with no increase in…
Read More‘Repeated rhetoric and gimmicks won’t prevent further unbearable winters’ – SAM president (30 January)
Commenting on the publication today (30 January) of NHS England’s 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The current situation is dire. The summer was spent largely at winter levels of pressure and, unsurprisingly, when we entered winter hospitals were overrun. “There is nothing new in the…
Read MoreStakeholder views sought as part of Associate Ambulance Practitioner Apprenticeship update
A steering group led by ambulance services in England is conducting a review of the Level 4 Associate Ambulance Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard. First introduced in 2017, the Standard, which is in use across both NHS and independent providers, is being updated to ensure that it remains fit for purpose for employers and learners and continues…
Read MoreWeight loss drug complications “not slowing down” says SAM president-elect (18 January)
Commenting in the Mail on Sunday (18 Jan) on an investigation which found hundreds of people are being hospitalised after suffering serious reactions to weight loss drugs, Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The Society for Acute Medicine warned last year about the number of patients attending hospitals with complications…
Read MoreONS data ‘illustrates harm caused by prolonged waits’ – SAM past president (17 January)
Commenting on analysis of the association between time spent in emergency care and 30-day post-discharge mortality published today (17 January) by the Office for National Statistics, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This important data from the ONS further illustrates the importance of timely acute care and the harm caused from…
Read MoreCorridor care concerns “raised consistently” but problems have worsened, says SAM president (17 January)
Commenting on the Royal College of Nursing’s On the Frontline of the UK’s Corridor Care Crisis report for a piece in The BMJ (17 January), Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, which represents healthcare staff working in acute medicine across the UK, said: “The issue of corridor care is one we…
Read More‘Flu message acted as smokescreen to fundamental problems’ says SAM president (16 January)
Commenting on the latest weekly sitrep data released today (16 January) by NHS England, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The latest weekly data from NHS England highlights how hospitals are “jampacked” but this should really be described as “overflowing” given the fact many patients will be receiving care in…
Read MoreGovernment has “steadfastly avoided” measures needed to tackle corridor care – SAM past president (15 January)
Commenting on health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s statement on winter pressures made in Parliament today (15 January), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The secretary of state’s description of corridor care is accurate but the measures needed to change that direction – increased capacity, workforce and improvements…
Read MoreJoint letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on corridor care and actions required (12 January)
Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, has co-signed a letter to Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on corridor care as part of a coalition of trade unions, professional bodies, charities and patient groups calling for urgent action.
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