Press Releases
‘Share concerns about failure to prioritise health and social care spending‘ – SAM past president
Commenting on an analysis of the healthcare budget in the autumn statement carried out by the Liberal Democrats, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We share the concerns of Sarah Olney regarding the failure to prioritise health and social care spending in the autumn statement. “By not prioritising…
Read More‘Right Place, Right Care report a clear indication of the root causes of NHS crisis’ says SAM
The Society for Acute Medicine contributed to the Right Place, Right Care report published by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine on Tuesday, 21 November. The report highlights that lessons must be learned from the emergency care crisis in 2022 and concludes that “too many patients are in the wrong place for their needs”. The report makes…
Read More‘Chaotic and dangerous spiral of decline in NHS gravely concerning’ warns immediate past president
The latest NHS performance data, released today (09 November), shows among other things: * 70.2% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments last month compared to 71.6% in September 2023 and 69.5% in October 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. * 69.7% of patients were seen within…
Read MoreOlder and frail patients waiting longer for emergency care than younger patients – SAMBA data
A study led by the University of Warwick in collaboration with the Society for Acute Medicine has found that younger patients with simpler problems are waiting less time for assessments than older and frailer patients with complex care needs. The study, which utilised data collected in the annual Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit (SAMBA),…
Read More‘Industrial action must be resolved before winter’ – SAM president
Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) president Dr Tim Cooksley has warned industrial action across the NHS must end before winter to avoid “appalling” patient outcomes and experiences. He spoke at the start of the organisation’s two-day conference in Glasgow today and tomorrow (12 and 13 October) and following the release today of the latest NHS performance…
Read More‘Long waiting lists necessitate access to urgent and emergency care’ – SAM president
Commenting on a report by the Press Association about a rise in the number of people attending A&Es with sore throats, insomnia, coughs and earache, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Long waiting lists mean patients will often be unable to tolerate symptoms necessitating them to access urgent and emergency…
Read More’Perfect storm of events may make this winter worse’ – SAM president
Commenting on figures released by the Royal College for Emergency Medicine today (25 September) which showed 399,908 people waited 24 hours or more in an emergency department in England in 2022/23, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data is a further illustration of the appalling experiences and harm for…
Read More‘Extremely troubled times ahead in the NHS as winter approaches’ – SAM president
The latest NHS performance data released today (14 September 2023) shows, among other things: * 73% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments in August compared to 74% in July 2023 and 71.7% in August 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. * There were 120,000 four-hour delays…
Read MoreNHS performance ‘reflects trajectory of great concern’ – SAM president
The latest NHS performance data, released today (Thursday, 10 August) shows, among other things: *74.0% of patients were seen within 4 hours in all A&E departments this month compared to 73.3% in June 2023 and 71.1% in July 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. *There were 110,000 four-hour delays from decision…
Read MoreSAM raises concerns around the urgent and emergency care plan and responds to NHS England’s winter plan
In August, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, worked alongside colleagues to highlight concerns around the NHS’s urgent and emergency care plan and respond to the NHS England’s winter plan. https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1806 https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/early-approach-winter-planning-urgent-and-emergency-care-vital-we-must-act-now https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/the-nhs-is-not-being-ambitious-enough-on-emergency-care/7035300.article
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