Position Statements
Country in grip of one crisis and heading into another – SAM past president
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…
Read More‘Important that new urgent care standards don’t move overcrowding downstream’ says SAM president
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…
Read More‘Data shows sustained pressure as we approach winter’ – SAM past president
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…
Read MoreUK chief medical officers’ letter “articulates fears of the frontline” – SAM past president
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…
Read MoreSAM president shares concerns about Covid “Christmas wave” in January
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…
Read MoreGovernment’s Covid winter plan “woefully short on important detail” – SAM president
Following the release today of the government’s Covid winter plan, Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The Covid winter plan produced by the Prime Minister and the government today to allegedly see the country and NHS through the end of this year and into the next is woefully short on…
Read MoreFigures clearly show pressure the system is under – SAM past president
Following today’s release of the latest NHS performance data, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Pressure has been rising substantially in many parts of the country over recent weeks with growing concerns of overcrowding in both emergency and acute medical units, compromising infection control and patient safety. “This is being…
Read MoreWithholding funds promised to NHS “not right” says SAM past president
Following information obtained by The Observer concerning a dispute between NHS England and the Treasury over the release of funds to cover the additional costs of managing the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “It would be a shame if the funding that seemed to be…
Read MoreSAM submission to Health and Social Care Committee’s pandemic inquiry
The Society for Acute Medicine has made a submission to the Health and Social Care Committee’s ‘Delivering Core NHS and Care Services during the Pandemic and Beyond’ inquiry ahead of its latest evidence session today (Tuesday, 16 June). In the letter, available to download here (Health and Social Care Committee submission), Dr Susan Crossland, president…
Read MoreFears for NHS with “scarce sign“ of recovery plan, says SAM past president
Following today’s release of NHS performance data for May, Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “This data highlights the capacity we need to work in “normal” circumstances given that the NHS is only close to reaching the four-hour A&E target because attendances are down 42%. “We really do…
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