News
SAM 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…
Read More‘Data intensifies concerns among clinicians’ says SAM past president (12 December)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (12 December), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We warned last month of the desperate need for the government to turn its attention to the threat of winter and this data only intensifies the concern among clinicians of the…
Read MoreWinter SAMBA24 National Report
Winter SAMBA24 took place on 20th February 2024, and aimed to help us understand how our services perform in winter. The report is available here. Many thanks to all the units and colleagues that took part, and supported the running of Winter SAMBA24. If you require a copy of your local report or data, or have…
Read MorePhysician Associate Position Statement
Updated December 2024 The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) is a proudly multidisciplinary organisation with members from several different professional backgrounds. We aim to support them all to deliver the highest standards of care for acutely unwell adult medical patients. In several Acute Medical Units, Physician Associates (PAs) have become established team members helping to…
Read MoreSecretary of State comments about patient safety and winter plans “concerning” says SAM past president (09 December)
Commenting today (09 December) on health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s urgent talks with NHS leaders in England about how the service will cope this winter, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “It is concerning that the Secretary of State feels it reasonable to reiterate the need…
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