09.05.16
Weekend death rate actually lower than weekdays, research suggests
Fewer patients die in hospitals during weekends than weekdays, according to new analysis, casting doubt on the government’s claims that a seven-day NHS must be introduced to improve mortality rates.
The research, from the University of Manchester’s Centre for Health Economics, found that the belief that death rates are higher at weekends may reflect the fact that fewer patients are admitted.
It comes as the government is due to re-enter talks with junior doctors, who have been staging strikes over a new contract designed to extend weekend working hours.
Professor Matt Sutton, who led the research, said: “The figures comparing death rates at weekends and weekdays are skewed. The NHS has rushed to fix a perceived problem that further research shows does not exist.”
Unlike previous studies, the University of Manchester report is based on admissions to A&E instead of to hospital.
It found that between April 2013 and February 2014, hospitals admitted 7% fewer patients at the weekend.
Professor Sutton said that hospitals operate a higher safety threshold at weekends and only admit patients with more serious illnesses, meaning they are more likely to die regardless of the quality of care.
His colleague Rachel Meacock, lead author of the study, said: “The so-called ‘weekend effect’ is a statistical artefact and extending services will not reduce the number of deaths.”
She warned that the only effect of the seven-day NHS would be to lead to more patients with less severe illness being admitted at weekends, increasing financial pressures on the health service.
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