Press
Performance figures “extremely worrying” with some units operating at 100% capacity – SAM president
Following the release today of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “These figures are extremely worrying. Compared to April last year it shows a 104% rise in A&E attendances and a 56% rise in admissions – and 12-hour delays have more than doubled. “Although it is hard to comprehensively…
Read MoreNHS and social care: “Need to get the basics right” says SAM past president
Following today’s Queen’s Speech (11 May), which outlined additional funding to support the NHS and proposals on social care reform, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Although we of course welcome additional funding for the NHS, my concern with these statements from the government is that we have…
Read MoreSAM backs RCEM ‘winter-proofing’ campaign as concerns grow over demand
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has today launched a new campaign, Summer to Recover: Winter-Proofing Urgent and Emergency Care for 2021, which outlines a series of actions, recommendations and guidance to help ‘winter-proof’ the urgent and emergency care system. Commenting on the campaign, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine,…
Read MoreSenior medics say “red flags” showing as non-Covid attendances rise
04 April 2021 Senior medics have said “red flags” are showing in hospitals as non-Covid emergency attendances rise amid pressures to resume non-urgent services – all while capacity remains tight with Covid infection control measures in place. The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) said some emergency departments had experienced their busiest days in two years during…
Read MoreBudget: “Demoralising to see barely a mention of gaping NHS funding holes” says SAM president
03 March 2021 Following today’s Budget delivered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “While we can only hope there is more focus on the investment needed in the NHS to come in the small print and into the future, it is extremely demoralising to see barely…
Read MorePerformance data ‘hits home shape NHS is in’ – SAM past president
Following the release today (11 February) of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data really hits home what shape the NHS is in and how long the road to recovery is going to be. “A&E figures show the worst 12-hour performance since…
Read MoreMessage of thanks ‘appreciated but recognition of multitude of issues more important’
Following a message of thanks to NHS staff delivered by NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens ahead of a visit today to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Although this message of thanks is appreciated, what is more important at this point is to…
Read More‘Challenges are truly daunting’ says SAM past president
Following the release today of the latest NHS performance data (14 January), Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data shows exactly how dire things are with millions of people waiting to start hospital treatment and 330,000 people waiting more than six weeks for key diagnostic tests, so…
Read MoreDoctor warns of concern for welfare of staff on medical wards
A senior doctor has warned of his concern for the welfare of staff on medical wards who are dealing with increasing numbers of Covid-19 patients (07 January). Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said up to 90 per cent of the 30,074 Covid patients now in UK hospitals were…
Read MoreSenior medic says it is a “race against time” to vaccinate the vulnerable before new variant hits North
A senior medic has warned it is now a “race against time” to vaccinate vulnerable people and healthcare staff before the third Covid wave hits the North. Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, also said things could get “dire quickly” once a “fraction of the normal winter pressures” are…
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