News
‘Worsening of winter crisis predictable and inevitable’ says SAM president (11 January)
Commenting today (11 January) on analysis of NHS England data by the Liberal Democrats which showed there were a record 518,213 waits of 12 hours or more in emergency departments in 2024, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The alarming issue of long delays in emergency departments has…
Read More‘Data illustrates appalling extent of winter crisis’ – SAM past president (09 January)
Commenting on the release today (09 January) of the latest NHS monthly performance data, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data, which shows 12-hour waits in emergency departments up 23.6% on last year at more than 54,000, further illustrates the appalling extent of the current winter crisis.…
Read MoreCurrent pressures on hospitals among “worst ever seen” says SAM past president (08 January)
Commenting on pressures across the NHS this week (08 January), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The NHS and social care services remain under immense pressure with many colleagues reporting this is the worst it has ever been in their hospitals. “Each part of the system continues to…
Read MoreElective recovery plan “hollow and ill-fated” for failing to acknowledge role of social care and urgent and emergency care (06 January)
Commenting on the NHS elective recovery plan announced officially today by the Prime Minister, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The aim to reduce elective waiting times and the more innovative aspects of the plan are welcome. “However, in the middle of a winter of discontent this is hollow…
Read MoreSAM past president warns of “dire” months ahead for patients and staff (03 January)
Commenting on the release today (Friday, 03 January 2025) of the latest weekly NHS data, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The “quad-demic” has entirely predictably plunged many hospitals into critical incident. “The lack of bed capacity with hospitals being overstretched throughout the year means there was no…
Read More‘Another winter of discontent looms for NHS urgent and emergency care’ warns SAM in BMJ (03 January)
Writing in the BMJ, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine warns another winter of discontent looms for NHS urgent and emergency care. www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj.r6?_gl=11g1odfo_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gbraid=0AAAAADo8aFII82NIzGQCF1AgS5Uxv1IjI
Read More‘Elective recovery plan will fail without urgent and emergency care recovery’ – SAM past president (03 January)
Commenting in The Guardian (03 January) ahead of the Prime Minister’s elective recovery programme launch next week, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The innovative elements of the elective recovery plan are welcome. Direct access to services, reducing bureaucracy and streamlining processes are key implementations for NHS recovery.…
Read MoreHistory of SAM: The recognition of Acute Medicine as a clinical entity and its early development as a medical speciality
As we head into 2025 and SAM is about to turn 25, read more about the beginnings of SAM. Dr Rhid Dowdle OBE, is the Archivist of the Society for Acute Medicine and a retired Consultant Physician and Cardiologist at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Rhid penned the first part…
Read More’No signs of a lull in pressure over Christmas’ – SAM president (24 December)
In response to an enquiry from The i Paper today (Tuesday, 24 December) about pressures on hospitals over the festive period, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “There is sustained pressure on the health service and no signs of a lull in pressure we may have seen in past years…
Read MoreNumber of people waiting more than 12 hours “shocking and a reflection of failures” – SAM president (13 December)
Commenting in The Times (13 December) on the number of 12-hour delays in A&E departments and regional variations, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The number of people waiting more than 12 hours is shocking and is a reflection of the failure to address workforce, capacity and social care problems…
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