Why are people more likely to die over the next 30 days if admitted to hospital on a weekend? - but less likely to actually die on a Saturday or Sunday? Lansley says the NHS needs to be a 7-day a week operation, what will that mean for staff?
The study that pointed to higher subsequent mortality levels for people admitted into hospital over a weekend begs almost as many questions as it answers. What are the reasons for the higher rates? Is it due to staffing levels, slower response times on critical procedures and interventions, or the emergency nature of weekend non-elective admissions?
The DH says it wants a 7-day NHS? But is that for elective and non-elective care? What are the priorities? If its a serious ambition it will take concerted effort and investment. Is a comprehensive 24/7 NHS something GP commissioners are going to be commisssioning?
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