Position Statements
Senior 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 MoreSAM marks National Day of Reflection a year on from first UK Covid-19 lockdown
As the UK marks National Day of Reflection on the anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We know all too well the challenges of the pandemic are still significant, but this day of reflection is an opportunity for us to take a moment out…
Read MoreData shows “enormous challenges” facing NHS – SAM president
11 March 2021 Following the release today of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data shows again the enormous challenges we face now and into the future to recover services while also managing constant demand. “This week has been manic and flow through acute…
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 MoreSAM pays tribute to Dr Clifford Mann
The Society for Acute Medicine is deeply saddened to learn this evening (20 Feb) of the death of Dr Cliff Mann, national clinical director for urgent and emergency care for NHS England and former president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Cliff was a great supporter of acute medicine. He attended and spoke at…
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 MoreSAM and Royal College of Physicians publish end-of-life care resource for hospital doctors
The Royal College of Physicians has produced a resource in collaboration with the Society for Acute Medicine to support hospital doctors in improving the care and choices provided to people at the end of their life. The End-of-life care in the acute care setting resource aims to help hospital doctors identify those patients who are in their…
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…
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