JEREMY Hunt’s own department has blown a hole in his key argument that a
seven-day NHS would cut weekend deaths at hospitals.
A leaked report from the Department of Health said it could not prove that
forcing more staff to work weekends would reduce the number of deaths in
patients admitted on Saturday and Sunday.
The Health Secretary has cited 15 international studies since 2010 to back up
his argument for a seven-day NHS which prompted him to pledge he would force
controversial new contracts on junior doctors last week.
But in an internal draft report leaked to the Guardian, the Department of
Health said it “cannot evidence the mechanism which increased consultant
presence and diagnostic tests at weekends will translate into lower
mortality and reduced length to stay.”
Mr Hunt is locked in talks with consultants to try and bring about his vision
for a seven-day NHS by 2020. He has not ruled out imposing new contracts on
the experienced medics.
LEAKED REPORT:
– Community and social services would buckle under the pressure of more
patients being discharged at weekends
– More than 11,000 new staff would be needed to man hospitals on Saturday and
Sunday to function like a weekday, including 3,000 nurses and 4,000 doctors
– It could cost £900m more each year
Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the British Medical Association council, said:
“This leaked document makes clear that more seven-day services will require
not only thousands of extra doctors, nurses and support staff but an
additional investment in both the NHS and community care.
“Its findings also show no proven link between weekend mortality rates and
consultant presence, and suggests that other investment is more necessary.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “There is clear, independent
clinical evidence of variation in the quality of care across the week and,
working together with the NHS, we are determined to tackle this problem.
Making sure the right staff and support is available for all patients seven
days a week is a key part of our approach.”