Position Statements
‘New ”normal” at unacceptably poor level’ – SAM president
Commenting today (12 May) on the latest NHS performance data, which shows a record 24,138 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England in April with 72.3 per cent of patients seen within four hours, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The latest set of…
Read More‘Pressures are at unsustainable levels’ says SAM president
Commenting on the release today of the latest NHS performance data, which shows the highest recorded number of 12-hour waits in emergency departments and a record low of 71.6 per cent of patients seen within four hours, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), said: “The troubling situation we are seeing…
Read MoreNHS system becoming increasingly compromised – SAM president
Commenting on current and rising pressures in the NHS today (06 April), Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Spring has yet to bring any relief to NHS and social care which continues to be under immense strain. This is reflected in current performance data and the statements from hospitals and…
Read MoreNHS performance data shows another month of ‘extreme struggle’ and need for action on workforce – SAM president
Following the release today of the latest NHS performance data which shows among other things that the number of people waiting for non-urgent operations on the NHS in England has risen to more than 6.1 million people and 16,404 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments to be admitted to hospital,…
Read MoreLatest NHS performance data highlights “huge pressure” on urgent and emergency care – SAM president
Commenting today (10 February) on the latest NHS performance data which shows more than six million people are now waiting for non-urgent treatment and a record 16,558 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England in January, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Urgent and…
Read MoreHealth secretary’s NHS elective recovery announcement ‘fails to address key issues’ – SAM past president
Commenting on today’s NHS elective recovery plan announcement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Dr Susan Crossland, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “While we support developing plans to help reduce the backlog of patients waiting for NHS care, the announcement today from the health secretary is…
Read MoreNHS waiting lists ‘an emergency which requires an urgent coherent plan’ says SAM president
Commenting today (07 February) on the issue of delayed plans to tackle the backlog of people waiting for NHS treatment, Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The huge number of people on NHS waiting lists is an emergency which requires an urgent and coherent plan to ensure patients receive timely…
Read More‘Urgent care system remains hugely strained’ – SAM immediate past president
Commenting on news this week of the easing of Covid restrictions, Dr Susan Crossland, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said today (21 January): “In light of the latest moves to ease Covid restrictions we are keen to reiterate the urgent care system remains hugely strained and will continue to be for…
Read MoreNHS performance data shows ‘increasingly serious situation’ – SAM president
The latest NHS performance data released today (13 January) shows the number of people in England waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to six million, 12,986 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments and 120,218 people waited at least four hours in A&E from the decision to admit to admission.…
Read More‘Essential virtual wards are appropriately planned, resourced and staffed’ – SAM president
Commenting on the development of virtual wards and the need for careful implementation (reported today 07 January by the Health Service Journal), Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Urgent and emergency care services remain under huge pressure with concerns regarding overcrowding, delays in patient care and exhausted staff with increasing…
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