CEM Statements
For press queries regarding College statements please contact:
Gerardine Beckett (Office Manager) 020 7067 1261
2013
The drive for quality - How to achieve safe, sustainable care in our Emergency Departments
Emergency care systems in the UK & Ireland are facing their biggest challenge in well over a decade as they aim to cope with unsustainable workloads and a lack of sufficient numbers of middle grade doctors and Consultants in Emergency Medicine to deliver consistent quality care. In this report, the first of its kind, The College calls for fundamental change in the way we design, fund and run our emergency care systems.
Download the report and press statement here
NHS Support Plan for Emergency Departments
Press statement available here
The challenges facing Emergency Departments (9 May 2013)
Press statement available here
NHS 111 - Press Release (2 May 2013)
The College of Emergency Medicine notes the very serious concerns being expressed about the efficiency and effectiveness of NHS 111 around the country at present. We have prepared a press release on NHS 111 which can be downloaded here.
Press release: the challenges facing Emergency Departments (26 April 2013)
CEM response to the Francis Inquiry report
National Early Warning Score (NEWS) Statement - CEM welcomes the recommended introduction of the NEWS as the single standardised national tool for improving safety, though it is not yet validated for use in the emergency department and further work on its utility there is needed - download the full statement. To view NEWS please access the below link:
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/resources/national-early-warning-score-news
Publication of the Francis Report - available here
Recognition of EPLS - The CEM curriculum requires trainees to have completed a paediatric life support course and recognises the course is an appropriate proxy for workplace based assessments in the major paediatric presentations. The College curriculum refers only to APLS but trainers and trainees can be reassured that the EPLS is the equivalent of the APLS and is acceptable as evidence of these competences.
2012
Ambulatory emergency care statement (Oct 2012)
The College remit is the pursuit of excellence in Emergency Care. The development of ambulatory emergency care* pathways is central to ensuring effective use of resources and an enhanced patient experience and is supported by the College.
Implementation of safe ambulatory care pathways will require appropriate access to diagnostics, and senior review of patients before discharge, associated with adequate IT support.
Failure to ensure clear pathway design and appropriate follow up arrangements before closure of beds will result in unacceptable risk to patients.
The College recommends local piloting of any new pathway and appropriate monitoring of outcomes before permanent changes are made.
*This is also sometimes termed Same Day Emergency Care – and attracts a best practice tariff –see the PbR guidance for 2012-13 on the DH website
Shaping a healthier future – North West London consultation. The College’s response (Oct 2012)
The College is grateful for the opportunity to comment on the consultation for North West London (NWL) reconfiguration plans. We have reviewed both the consultation document and elements of the evidence provided in the outline business case. The priority is to ensure that the proposed changes maintain a high quality and safe service for the people of NWL. Our comments are based around this important premise.
Re: RCP Report - Hospitals on the edge? The time for action (13 Sept 2012)
The College of Emergency Medicine welcomes the publication of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report 'Hospitals on the edge? The time for action'.
The College agrees with both the analysis and conclusions of the report. The continued rise in attendances and the severity and complexity of patient conditions presenting, without provision of adequate resources for assessment and admission, has contributed to severe difficulty in the recruitment and retention of doctors specialising in Emergency Medicine. A tipping point has been reached; failure to realign resources with patients’ needs will lead to failures in the care of patients.
Dr Clifford Mann, College Registrar, commented that: “The College of Emergency Medicine is concerned about patient safety and the welfare of those working in these pressurised hospital departments. It joins with the RCP in agreeing that now is the time for action.”
Dr Mann added "The College is hosting a “crisis summit" of key stakeholders later this month and this report is a timely reminder of the challenge faced.”
Re: Hospitals on the edge? The time for action
The College of Emergency Medicine welcomes the publication of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report 'Hospitals on the edge? The time for action'.
The College agrees with both the analysis and conclusions. The continued rise in attendances and the severity and complexity of patient conditions presenting, without provision of adequate resources for assessment and admission, has contributed to severe difficulty in the recruitment and retention of doctors specialising in Emergency Medicine. A tipping point has been reached; failure to realign resources with patients’ needs will lead to failures in the care of patients.
Dr Clifford Mann, the College Registrar, commented that: “The College is concerned about patient safety and the welfare of those working in these pressurised hospital departments. It joins with the RCP in agreeing that now is the time for action.
The College is hosting a "Crisis Summit" of key stakeholders later this month and this report is a timely reminder of the challenge faced.”
2011
Waiting times in Emergency Departments (15 August 2011) - Following the publication of data from the Department of Health that suggests that the number of people waiting more than four hours in Emergency Departments in England has nearly doubled in the past year, the College of Emergency Medicine has issued the following quote:
“Relaxation of the 4 hour target to 95% of Emergency Department patients being treated and admitted or discharged within four hours was supported by The College of Emergency Medicine as strict adherence to the previous target (98%) was distorting patient care and placing clinicians under immense pressure.
Whilst today’s figures do show that the number of people waiting more than four hours in Emergency Departments in England has increased, over 20 million patients visit Emergency Departments each year in England with the vast majority of these being seen in less than four hours.
Optimising patient care in Emergency Departments is not achieved by just reducing waiting times, which is why a set of new Quality Indicators was introduced in April this year. These indicators include measures of time, together with markers of quality and safety, designed to drive better patient care in all Emergency Departments. The indicators will retain focus and support for the development of emergency care to the high standard our patients expect and deserve.” - Dr John Heyworth, President of the College of Emergency Medicine
Joint statement on the emergency care of older people (18 May 2011) - the College together with the BGS, RCGP, RCN and RCP have published a statement calling for the development and integration of care for older people.
CEM response to the Health and Social Care Bill (2 Mar 2011)
What is Emergency Medicine? (15 Feb 2011) - The College of Emergency Medicine has prepared this guide for medical colleagues in other specialties, many of whom will have had experience of hospital Emergency Medicine in the past. It is designed to inform colleagues of the changes over recent years and of the potential future of Emergency Medicine in the UK.
CEM response to NHS Information Centre report on ED attendances (19 January 2011)