Position Statements
Failure to meet new A&E target “tragically inevitable and predictable” – SAM immediate past president
The latest NHS performance data released today (11 April) shows, among other things: *74.4% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments in March 2024. This compares with 71.3% in February 2024 and 71.5% in March 2023. *There were 140,181 four-hour delays from decision to admit to admission in March. Of these,…
Read MoreNumber of 12 hour waits ‘staggering and simply unacceptable’ – SAM past president
The latest NHS performance data released today (14 March) showed, among other things: Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The appalling experience patients and staff in acute care are suffering daily is reflected in the enormous number of patients waiting more than 12 hours for a bed. “These…
Read More‘Older patients increasingly experiencing long waits and degrading corridor care’ – SAM president-elect
In response to an enquiry from The Independent regarding the scale of risk to elderly patients in the current context of short staffing and boarding on medical wards, Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Older patients are increasingly receiving care well below the standards they should expect and that staff…
Read More‘Rumours of NHS funding cut could be final straw’ – SAM past president
Responding to a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies published today (04 March) which suggests the NHS in England is going to suffer a 1.2% cut in its budget for 2024/25, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The NHS finds itself in an eternal crisis. The pressures throughout…
Read More‘Figures indicative of anticipated and entirely predictable winter crisis’
Following the release today (22 February) of the latest weekly NHS performance data, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These latest figures are indicative of the anticipated and entirely predictable winter crisis which continues to intensify and, as we have warned previously, has not yet peaked. “The increasing number…
Read More‘Insufficient workforce and capacity to meet demand’ – SAM past president
Following the release today (15 February) of the latest weekly NHS performance figures, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The NHS finds itself in an eternal winter. The pressures throughout the system are perfectly and bleakly illustrated in urgent and emergency care where patients experience appalling conditions and prolonged waits. …
Read More‘Degrading corridor care and prolonged waits causing significant harm’ – SAM past president
The latest NHS performance data released today (08 February) shows, among other things: In response, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Degrading corridor care and prolonged waits causing significant harm is tragically and increasingly the expected state in urgent and emergency care. “A rise of COVID and flu…
Read MoreVirtual wards ‘not a panacea’ says SAM past president
In response to an enquiry from The Guardian regarding virtual wards, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “NHS urgent and emergency care is under unbearable strain; strain that is increasingly causing harm to patients. “Emergency department overcrowding and stasis in acute medical units prevents timely and high-quality care…
Read MoreSAM past president tells Times Health Commission corridor care is ‘undignified, unreasonable and totally inappropriate’
The Times today (Tuesday, 06 February) published its Times Health Commission report into the crisis facing the health and social care system in England. The commission, set up in January 2023, was supported by a prestigious group of expert commissioners from the worlds of medicine, business, policy, science, food and sport. This included representation from…
Read More‘Bed capacity nowhere near meeting demand’ – SAM president elect
Following today’s announcement by NHS England (25 January) that it has delivered on its ambition of 5,000 more permanent beds, Dr Vicky Price, president elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “While this announcement is positive and important, it will be some time before patients and staff feel any improvement on the shop floor.…
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