Press Releases
SAM 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 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…
Read More12-hour wait data “shows situation is worsening” – SAM president (12 February)
Commenting on the release today (12 February) of the latest NHS performance data which shows 71,517 patients were delayed over 12 hours in emergency departments (2,307 decision to admit delays over 12 hours per day which is an increase of 16.2% from January 2025), Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said:…
Read MoreData shows system “stretched beyond safe limits” – SAM president (15 January)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data published today (15 January), Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Today’s data shows more than 50,700 patients waited over 12 hours from the decision to admit to actually reaching a bed – an increase on the previous month and equivalent to more than…
Read MoreServices to prevent hospital admissions “must be protected not cut” – SAM president (12 January)
Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, features in a BBC News in-depth feature published today (12 January) on the impact of delayed discharges on patients, clinicians and the NHS. She also featured on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme (starts 2:46:20). Dr Price’s comments in full: “There has been lots of good work done [to…
Read MoreSAM president sounds alarm over government’s focus on ‘online hospitals’ while patients suffer “unprecedented harm” (08 January)
Society for Acute Medicine president Dr Vicky Price has raised concerns over the government’s focus on future digital developments such the NHS online hospital initiative while patients seeking emergency care are suffering “unprecedented harm”. She said while developments to reduce waits for some patients are welcome, there is “no excuse” for failing to acknowledge and…
Read MoreSituation in hospitals “already truly shocking” – SAM president (15 December)
Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, commented in today’s Guardian ( 15 December) on a new report released by the Health Foundation which suggests hospitals will have fewer beds available this winter than usual because “delayed discharges” – beds occupied by people who are medically fit to leave but have nowhere…
Read More‘Corridor care on an unprecedented scale’ – SAM president (11 December)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (11 December), Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The latest NHS monthly performance data released today paints a sadly familiar picture of a system under relentless strain. “With record 12-hour waits continuing to mount – 50,648 last month, up 10.6% on…
Read MoreEmphasis on unnecessary A&E attendances “a smokescreen” says SAM president (04 December)
Commenting on NHS England’s press release issued today which suggests emergency departments are “under siege from hiccups and ingrowing toenails”, Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Today’s emphasis on “unnecessary” A&E attendances risks becoming yet another “dead cat” distraction from the real pressures facing acute and emergency care. While encouraging…
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