Press
Fewer than one in five acutely unwell patients first assessed on specialist acute medical units, warns SAM (10 October)
Patients are being left in hospital corridors for dangerously long periods and missing timely access to specialist care, the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) has warned. Latest data, presented at the Society’s bi-annual conference in Manchester, showed fewer than one in five acutely unwell medical patients are receiving their first assessment in an acute medical unit (AMU).…
Read MoreONS data ‘illustrates harm caused by prolonged waits’ – SAM past president (17 January)
Commenting on analysis of the association between time spent in emergency care and 30-day post-discharge mortality published today (17 January) by the Office for National Statistics, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This important data from the ONS further illustrates the importance of timely acute care and the harm caused from…
Read MoreCorridor care concerns “raised consistently” but problems have worsened, says SAM president (17 January)
Commenting on the Royal College of Nursing’s On the Frontline of the UK’s Corridor Care Crisis report for a piece in The BMJ (17 January), Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, which represents healthcare staff working in acute medicine across the UK, said: “The issue of corridor care is one we…
Read More‘Flu message acted as smokescreen to fundamental problems’ says SAM president (16 January)
Commenting on the latest weekly sitrep data released today (16 January) by NHS England, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The latest weekly data from NHS England highlights how hospitals are “jampacked” but this should really be described as “overflowing” given the fact many patients will be receiving care in…
Read MoreGovernment has “steadfastly avoided” measures needed to tackle corridor care – SAM past president (15 January)
Commenting on health and social care secretary Wes Streeting’s statement on winter pressures made in Parliament today (15 January), Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The secretary of state’s description of corridor care is accurate but the measures needed to change that direction – increased capacity, workforce and improvements…
Read MoreReduced flu vaccine uptake among healthcare staff and older people “worrying” says SAM president (30 November)
Commenting in The Sunday Telegraph on the reduced uptake in flu vaccinations among healthcare staff and older people, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The apparent reduced uptake in the vaccine for influenza amongst both health care professionals and at risk individuals is somewhat worrying. “It may suggest an element…
Read More‘Urgent and emergency care survey lays bare scale of the challenge’ – SAM president (21 November)
Commenting on findings from a Care Quality Commission survey of more than 45,500 people who used NHS urgent and emergency care (UEC) services in 2024, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The fact two-thirds of patients reported waiting more than four hours and subsequently had worse than average experiences in all…
Read More‘Data shows desperate need for government to turn attention to threat of winter’ says SAM president-elect (14 November)
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today (14 November), Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data shows there is a desperate need for the government to turn its attention to the threat of winter and the actions it needs to take to reduce the impact of the…
Read More‘Government league table reforms could have significant detrimental effect’ – SAM president (13 November)
Commenting on an announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care about the introduction of a new league table of NHS providers among other reforms being outlined today (13 November), Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The NHS continues to find itself in an eternal crisis with no light…
Read More‘Urgent social care investment needed in immediate period’ says SAM past president (25 October)
Commenting ahead of the upcoming Budget, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said (25 October): “We need to get a position where capacity is able to meet demand and that will only be possible through tackling the workforce and estates issues that currently exist and are impeding the ability…
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