Press Releases

Ahead of the publication of Lord Darzi’s NHS investigation tomorrow (Thursday, 12 September), Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The Darzi report will highlight all the problems and failings we and many other organisations have been vocal about for many years. “Its publication will coincide with the release of the…

Commenting on a study published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care which reported many older patients in the last six months of their lives are being needlessly over-investigated, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Capacity and overcrowding in hospitals means it takes longer to individualise and…

The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) and Digital Clinical Excellence Forum (DiCE) UK share the concerns raised by NHS England’s medical director regarding the inappropriate use of weight loss drugs to get “beach body ready”, as outlined in a statement issued by SAM in June. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients are attending hospital with serious complications and may…

Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (08 August), Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This latest data demonstrates what a significant challenge the new government faces in trying to exit the crisis being experienced across the NHS – and particularly within urgent and emergency care. “Despite the…

Commenting on an enquiry from The Guardian and The Observer about whether the UK is better or worse prepared today compared to 2020 following the findings outlined in the Covid inquiry, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The conclusion that we are less prepared for a pandemic as…

Commenting on Labour Party data which showed some patients waited up to 10 days in A&E in parts of England over the last year, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data is yet more evidence of the appalling situation in urgent and emergency care. These patients are…

Commenting on an investigation by The Times into social media adverts promoting weight loss treatments “to get summer ready”, Dr Vicky Price, a consultant in acute medicine and president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These adverts and the messages they are conveying are extremely worrying, particularly given the patients we are seeing with…

The latest NHS performance data released today (11 April) shows, among other things: *74.4% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments in March 2024. This compares with 71.3% in February 2024 and 71.5% in March 2023. *There were 140,181 four-hour delays from decision to admit to admission in March. Of these,…

The latest NHS performance data released today (14 March) showed, among other things: Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The appalling experience patients and staff in acute care are suffering daily is reflected in the enormous number of patients waiting more than 12 hours for a bed.  “These…