Press Releases
Spiral of decline in urgent and emergency care evident every month – SAM president
The latest NHS performance data released today shows, among other things: *73.3% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments this month compared to 74.0% in May 2023 and 72.1% in June 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. * There were 114,000 four-hour delays from decision to admit…
Read More‘Spiral of decline in urgent and emergency care yet to reach lowest point’ – SAM in the BMJ
Dedicated hospital units designed to treat emergency medical patients for up to 72 hours are now under such intense demand that specialists are often forced to provide care in emergency departments. Writing in The BMJ (03 July), Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), and colleagues warn acute medicine is “wilting”…
Read MoreSAM response to NHS Long Term Workforce Plan
The much anticipated and eagerly awaited NHS Long Term Workforce Plan has been published: in itself an important achievement and, like so many organisations who have called for this, we were pleased to digest its 151 pages. The challenges are stark: 112,000 clinical vacancies currently; expected to increase to 360,000 in 2037. The recruitment plans are rightly ambitious in addressing this:…
Read MoreHealth Foundation analysis illustrates “immense strain” on urgent and emergency care – SAM president
A new analysis published today (Friday, 23 June) by the Health Foundation shows that 800,000 (12%) fewer patients in England were admitted to hospital in 2022 than in 2019, while the average length of stay in hospital increased. Commenting on the report, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The Health Foundation report is a further illustration of…
Read MoreLatest performance data shows an NHS under immense strain amid continuous crisis – SAM president
The latest NHS performance data (see individual sections), released today (08 June), shows among other things: * 74.% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments in May compared to 74.6% in April 2023 and 72.8% in May 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. * 60.4% of patients…
Read MoreNHS workforce plan: ‘We cannot continue to haemorrhage staff‘ – SAM president
Commenting on reports featuring the government’s NHS workforce proposals, first published in The Sunday Times on Sunday, 04 June, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The much anticipated and eagerly awaited NHS workforce plan is now expected to be released on its 75th birthday. “This is almost unquestionably the most…
Read More‘Window of opportunity becoming increasingly narrow’ says SAM president
The latest NHS performance data published today (Thursday, 11 May) shows, among other things: Commenting on the data, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The NHS urgent and emergency care system remains under immense strain and current performance trends show we are heading for a winter period as severe as…
Read MoreSenior medics warn of “terrifying trajectory” in the NHS and what it means for winter
Senior medics have warned of a “terrifying trajectory” which is likely to see the the NHS face a more difficult winter than last year. The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) said healthcare leaders must recognise there is now an “eternal winter” and plan accordingly. The organisation also called for the NHS workforce plan to be…
Read More‘Extremely troubled times ahead in urgent and emergency care’ says SAM president
The latest NHS performance data published today (Thursday, 13 April) shows, among other things: • 71.5% of patients were seen within four hours in all emergency departments in March 2023 and 56.8% in type 1 emergency departments. •There were 144,000 four-hour delays from decision to admit to admission, with 39,700 over 12 hours. •The number…
Read MoreSociety for Acute Medicine (SAM) statement on junior doctor strike
With junior doctors in England set to stage a four-day strike from tomorrow (Tuesday, 11 April), Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), said: “NHS urgent and emergency care remains under immense strain. These pressures result in unacceptable standards of care that are increasingly recognised to cause harm to patients. “High…
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