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Older and frail patients waiting longer for emergency care than younger patients – SAMBA data
A study led by the University of Warwick in collaboration with the Society for Acute Medicine has found that younger patients with simpler problems are waiting less time for assessments than older and frailer patients with complex care needs. The study, which utilised data collected in the annual Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit (SAMBA),…
Read MoreSAM shares concerns raised by Public Accounts Committee
Commenting on the release today (25 October) of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Report Access to urgent and emergency care, Dr Vicky Price, president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We share the concerns raised today by the Public Accounts Committee and fully support the call for action from NHS leaders and the Department of…
Read More‘Long waiting lists necessitate access to urgent and emergency care’ – SAM president
Commenting on a report by the Press Association about a rise in the number of people attending A&Es with sore throats, insomnia, coughs and earache, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Long waiting lists mean patients will often be unable to tolerate symptoms necessitating them to access urgent and emergency…
Read More’Perfect storm of events may make this winter worse’ – SAM president
Commenting on figures released by the Royal College for Emergency Medicine today (25 September) which showed 399,908 people waited 24 hours or more in an emergency department in England in 2022/23, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data is a further illustration of the appalling experiences and harm for…
Read More‘Extremely troubled times ahead in the NHS as winter approaches’ – SAM president
The latest NHS performance data released today (14 September 2023) shows, among other things: * 73% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments in August compared to 74% in July 2023 and 71.7% in August 2022. The 95% standard was last met in July 2015. * There were 120,000 four-hour delays…
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 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 More‘Damning data shows significant strain’ – SAM president
Commenting today (09 March) on the latest NHS performance data which shows, among other things, 71.5% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments (56.8% of patients were seen within 4 hours in type 1 A&E departments) and 127,000 four-hour delays from decision to admit to admission with 35,000 of these delayed over…
Read More‘Intolerable situation in NHS will not be overcome without a people recovery’ – SAM president
Commenting on the latest NHS performance data released today which, among other things, shows 72.4% of patients were seen within four hours in all A&E departments (58.0% of patients were seen within four hours in type 1 A&E departments) and there were 142,000 four-hour delays from decision to admit to admission with 42,700 of these…
Read More‘Recognition of the need for more hospital and intermediate care beds welcome’ says SAM as UEC recovery plan published
Commenting on a new blueprint published today by NHS England and the government which aims to help recover urgent and emergency care services, reduce waiting times, and improve patient experience, Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We welcome the urgent and emergency care recovery plan published today. Winter 2022 was very difficult…
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