Position Statements

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…

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…

A senior medic has warned it is now a “race against time” to vaccinate vulnerable people and healthcare staff before the third Covid wave hits the North. Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, also said things could get “dire quickly” once a “fraction of the normal winter pressures” are…

The Royal College of Physicians today (4 Jan) announced the death from COVID-19 of its Registrar, Professor Donal O’Donoghue. Donal was a staunch supporter of acute medicine and a friend of the Society for Acute Medicine. He opened our last face-to-face conference in Harrogate and was always a voice of common sense and good reasoning…

As pressure continues to rise across the NHS, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said in a statement today (28 December): “The current situation is extremely worrying as the numbers of Covid patients are increasing rapidly at the time of year when things are always ‘tight’.  “With the numbers…

As pressures on the NHS continue to rise heading into the festive break, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, discussed his concerns: “Speaking in terms of the picture in north of England, the numbers of patients with Covid are starting to fall but we are seeing a rise to…

Following the launch today (15 December) of NHS England’s consultation on access standards for urgent and emergency care across the NHS, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “SAM welcomes the attempts these new basket of measures will make in addressing the whole system, however, it is vitally important that we…

Following the release today of the latest NHS performance data (10 December) Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data is further evidence of the sustained pressures on the NHS and comes as we learn Covid-19 admissions are rising in most regions of England despite the November lockdown…

Following a letter issued to healthcare professionals from the UK’s four chief medical officers outlining their concerns about social mixing at Christmas, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “I feel this letter articulates the fears of many working on the frontline about the coming months and the impact…

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday warned of the possibility of a “Christmas wave” of Covid in January as rules are relaxed over the festive period, while NHS Providers suggested January could be extremely difficult for the NHS due to a combination of resurgent Covid caused by Christmas gathering in addition to normal winter pressures…