Position Statements
Performance 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…
Read MoreED-AM Pathway vaccine concerns updated
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Read MorePerformance 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 MoreNHS pressures like pre-pandemic “eternal winters” says SAM president
Following the release today (14 April) of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data shows pressure is high and growing despite the fall in Covid cases and this was prior to the country starting to come out of lockdown. “Just this week the workload…
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…
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