Press Releases
Elective recovery plan “hollow and ill-fated” for failing to acknowledge role of social care and urgent and emergency care (06 January)
Commenting on the NHS elective recovery plan announced officially today by the Prime Minister, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The aim to reduce elective waiting times and the more innovative aspects of the plan are welcome. “However, in the middle of a winter of discontent this is hollow…
Read MoreSAM past president warns of “dire” months ahead for patients and staff (03 January)
Commenting on the release today (Friday, 03 January 2025) of the latest weekly NHS data, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The “quad-demic” has entirely predictably plunged many hospitals into critical incident. “The lack of bed capacity with hospitals being overstretched throughout the year means there was no…
Read More‘Another winter of discontent looms for NHS urgent and emergency care’ warns SAM in BMJ (03 January)
Writing in the BMJ, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine warns another winter of discontent looms for NHS urgent and emergency care. www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj.r6?_gl=11g1odfo_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gbraid=0AAAAADo8aFII82NIzGQCF1AgS5Uxv1IjI
Read More‘Elective recovery plan will fail without urgent and emergency care recovery’ – SAM past president (03 January)
Commenting in The Guardian (03 January) ahead of the Prime Minister’s elective recovery programme launch next week, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The innovative elements of the elective recovery plan are welcome. Direct access to services, reducing bureaucracy and streamlining processes are key implementations for NHS recovery.…
Read More’No signs of a lull in pressure over Christmas’ – SAM president (24 December)
In response to an enquiry from The i Paper today (Tuesday, 24 December) about pressures on hospitals over the festive period, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “There is sustained pressure on the health service and no signs of a lull in pressure we may have seen in past years…
Read MoreNumber of people waiting more than 12 hours “shocking and a reflection of failures” – SAM president (13 December)
Commenting in The Times (13 December) on the number of 12-hour delays in A&E departments and regional variations, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The number of people waiting more than 12 hours is shocking and is a reflection of the failure to address workforce, capacity and social care problems…
Read More‘Data intensifies concerns among clinicians’ says SAM past president (12 December)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (12 December), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We warned last month of the desperate need for the government to turn its attention to the threat of winter and this data only intensifies the concern among clinicians of the…
Read MoreSecretary of State comments about patient safety and winter plans “concerning” says SAM past president (09 December)
Commenting today (09 December) on health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s urgent talks with NHS leaders in England about how the service will cope this winter, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “It is concerning that the Secretary of State feels it reasonable to reiterate the need…
Read More‘Govt must recognise there will be no elective recovery without emergency care recovery’ – SAM past president (05 December)
Commenting today (05 December) on the Prime Minister’s speech outlining priorities for the NHS and NHS England’s warning about winter pressures, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Pressures throughout the system are perfectly and bleakly illustrated in urgent and emergency care where patients experience appalling conditions and prolonged…
Read More‘Concern about continued emergency care crisis is well placed’ – SAM past president (02 December)
Commenting on Labour’s plan to commit to the restoration of the 92% referral to treatment (RTT) target by March 2029, as reported in The Times today (02 December), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The concern that urgent and emergency care will experience a continued crisis is well placed. “The…
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