Position Statements
Long wait death figures “a source of national shame” – SAM president (08 June)
Please find below statement from the Society for Acute Medicine relating to Royal College of Emergency Medicine analysis which shows the estimated number of deaths linked to long waits in Emergency Departments across England has surged almost tenfold over the past decade. Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These figures are…
Read MoreHospice funding must be recognised as a patient flow and hospital safety issue, says Society for Acute Medicine (04 June)
The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) has backed calls for immediate and sustainable funding for hospices, warning that pressures on palliative and community services are increasingly being felt across acute hospitals. SAM president Dr Vicky Price joined MPs, peers and representatives from across the health and care sector this week in delivering a letter to 10…
Read MoreSAM Position Statement – Clarifying the difference between EEMAC and Medical SDEC
Corridor care being “disguised rather than resolved” – SAM president (14 May)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (14 May), Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Although there is a desire centrally to show progress on corridor care, the reality on the ground among clinicians is that, in many areas, the problem is being disguised rather than resolved. “SAM…
Read More‘Good performance should not simply mean lower admission rates’ – SAM president (13 May)
Commenting in the HSJ on analysis which shows around 15 per cent of emergency admissions at some trusts are potentially avoidable, Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Variation in potentially avoidable admissions between trusts is likely to reflect a combination of factors, including local access to alternatives such as same…
Read More“Corridor care cannot be solved by moving patients out of sight,” warns senior medic (30 April)
The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) has warned that attempts to eliminate corridor care risk making conditions worse for some patients, as hospitals move people into other unsuitable spaces rather than addressing underlying pressures. Speaking at the launch of the Society’s Spring Conference in Cardiff today (30 April), president Dr Vicky Price said clinicians are…
Read MoreSAM president: NHS stuck in state of ‘permawinter’ (16 April)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (16 April), Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These figures suggest the NHS is now stuck in a state of ‘permawinter’, where pressures no longer ease as winter ends. “We are heading into spring and summer with urgent care services still…
Read MoreSAM in Wales: Fixing hospital flow, reforming social care and protecting patients must be central to Senedd election (06 April)
The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) in Wales is calling on all political parties to make urgent reform of acute and emergency care a central focus as the 2026 Senedd election next month (7 May) draws closer. Recent work from partner organisations has highlighted the severe consequences of front-door overcrowding and dangerous delays. The Royal College…
Read MoreSAM calls for urgent reform of acute and emergency care in Scotland ahead of the 2026 election (27 March)
The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) in Scotland is calling on all political parties to place urgent reform of acute and emergency care at the centre of their plans ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. Recent work from partner organisations has highlighted the severe consequences of front-door overcrowding and dangerous delays. A joint report…
Read More‘Sustained and unsafe pressures with long waits normalised’ – SAM president (12 March)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (12 March), Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These figures once again show hospitals operating under sustained and unsafe pressure, and there is a growing concern that very long waits are becoming normalised within the system. “When the focus shifts to…
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