Position Statements
‘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.…
Read More‘Current state of turmoil in urgent care services’ – SAM past president
The latest NHS performance data (December) released today (11 January) shows, among other things: •69.4% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments in December compared to 69.7% in November 2023 and 65.2% in December 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. •There were 148,000 four-hour delays from decision…
Read MoreJoint statement from RCEM and SAM re Same Day Emergency Care
This statement is a follow up to the joint statement issued in 2019 by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) regarding the delivery of same day emergency care (SDEC) in England following the launch of the 2019 Long Term Plan for the NHS in England. Please see statement below
Read MoreFrustration expressed on lack of resolution to current strike action
Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate Past President of the Society for Acute Medicine, has expressed frustration that resolution of the current strike action in the NHS has not been reached. “I have tremendous empathy with junior doctors due to the challenging working conditions that permeate throughout NHS currently alongside their significant pay erosion,” he said. “They…
Read More‘Predicted winter crisis is hitting hard’ – SAM immediate past president
In response to an enquiry from The Times on winter pressures and strike action, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The predicted winter crisis is hitting hard: high levels of flu and COVID are being seen across the country. “The pressures throughout the NHS are being vividly illustrated…
Read MoreSignificant patient harm and trauma likely across NHS in coming weeks
Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, has warned the next few weeks will see an increasing number of patients suffering significant harm and trauma as “predictable perfect storms” push the NHS into turmoil. He said long queues of ambulances outside hospitals and prolonged periods of corridor care were “inevitable”…
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