Press
NHS strain compounded by rising cases of norovirus – SAM past president
Public Health England has issued an alert today (16 July) about rising cases of norovirus in the community. In response, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We are now just days away from the lifting of the remaining restrictions in England and our NHS is under great strain.…
Read MoreSenior medics warn of “Covid explosion” as restrictions lift
Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, has warned of his concerns ahead of the lifting of Covid restrictions next week. He said: “With lifting restrictions there is a risk of a ‘Covid explosion’, as has been seen in the Netherlands already. Numbers of infected people could be so large…
Read MoreNHS data shows extent of “precarious situation” – SAM past president
Following the release today (08 July) of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data shows the extent of the precarious situation the NHS is in – it is worsening yet we are in a position of having to recover everything left behind…
Read MoreSAM welcomes new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Society for Acute Medicine welcomes the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to his post at what may prove to be one of the most challenging times for the NHS in our history. Not only are we seeing a resurgence of community Covid-19 cases that have so far not impacted on…
Read MoreSAM president warns of “massive tension” between elective and urgent care
Speaking today about pressures facing the NHS and the effects on acute medical units, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “There is massive tension between recovering elective care and carrying on with urgent care during the current surge we are experiencing. “The impact of this is significant because it affects…
Read MoreSAM past president warns current pressures and lack of respite ‘extremely worrying ahead of next onslaught’
Following today’s article in The Independent on concerns raised by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine about current pressures and patient safety, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “It is extremely worrying we are facing such pressures and problems at a time when, traditionally, urgent medical admissions might dip…
Read MorePerformance data shows “lack of preparation for the inevitable” says SAM leaders
The latest NHS performance data released today (10 June) shows 5.12 million people were on the waiting list for hospital treatment at the end of April – the highest number since records began in 2007. A&E attendances in England last month were 65% higher than a year ago and 83.7% of patients were seen within…
Read MoreBed occupancy well above 90% “dangerous” – SAM past president
Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, comments on current NHS pressures, the challenges being faced by staff and actions required to tackle some of the underlying issues across the system. He said: “Across our hospitals staff are facing pressures much like those seen in mid-winter, with bed occupancy levels…
Read MoreAny rise in Covid numbers will put recovery ‘in jeopardy’ – SAM past president
Commenting today (04 June) on NHS pressures, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Our hospitals are really, really busy with acute non-Covid related illnesses causing admission at the same time as trusts are trying to ramp up elective recovery. “Any slight rise in Covid numbers will put the…
Read MoreSAM response to NHS England’s review of urgent and emergency care standards
The NHS England clinical review of urgent and emergency care standards began in 2018 as a way to improve outcomes and patient experience. The latest stage of this review, the results of the consultation on proposed standards, was published today and shows broad support for a proposed bundle of measures to replace the four-hour emergency…
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