Position Statements
‘Significant rise in corridor care a national scandal’ says SAM past president (10 April)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (10 April), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “It is imperative that today’s analysis of the latest NHS performance data focuses on the number of 12-hour delays in emergency departments. There has been a significant rise in the number…
Read More‘Confusion and uncertainty likely to exacerbate frustrations with NHS further’ says SAM president-elect (14 March)
Writing for The i Paper on the latest NHS performance statistics and the government’s announcement to abolish NHS England (14 March), Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Performance data released this week showed an expectedly bleak picture, particularly for the almost 48,000 patients who waited more than 12 hours in…
Read More‘Lack of action condemning patients to corridor care’ says SAM president (26 February)
Commenting on a survey by the Royal College of Physicians (26 February) which found 80% of UK doctors reported being forced to treat patients in unsafe spaces, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine said: “These findings, while shocking, are not unexpected as the issue of corridor care is one we and…
Read MoreSAM president-elect “deeply concerned” about mortality figures in patients using weight loss drugs (25 February)
Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, has today (25 February) reiterated concerns regarding the increasing number of patients being seen in hospital following the use of weight loss medications. She said: “We are deeply concerned about the latest figures published with respect to mortality in patients using these medicines, particularly as…
Read MoreSAM president warns of “worrying” trend of patients avoiding NHS urgent and emergency care services (23 February)
Commenting on polling for The Guardian which highlights high levels of public fear and alarm about NHS urgent and emergency care not being available they need it, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “It is worrying to hear a trend that patients may be considering avoiding NHS services due to…
Read More‘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 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…
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