25.04.14
Societal changes a driver for seven day services – Keogh
Healthcare collaboration and responding to societal changes will play an important in the NHS providing a seven day service for its patients in the future, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director at NHS England, has said.
Speaking during the recentThought Leadership Day at Coventry University Hospital, Sir Bruce discussed hisplans to drive sevenday services across the NHS over the next three years.
He also described the standard of urgent and emergency care all patients should expect seven days a week. For example, how quickly people admitted to hospital should be assessed by a consultant, the diagnostic and scientific services that should always be available, and the process for handovers between clinical teams.
NHS England’s medical director also stated that throughout his career he has been interested in the potential benefits of seven day services.
His recommendations come in response to evidence of significant variations in outcomes across the NHS in England for patients admitted to hospitals at the weekend.
Causes include variable staffing levels in hospitals at the weekend, fewer decisions makers of consultant level and experience, a lack of consistent support services such as diagnostics and a lack of community and primary care services that could prevent some unnecessary admissions and support timely discharge.
Andy Stein, University Hospital consultant and member of the NHS England National Seven Day Working Group, said: “Some people seem to think we will be asking NHS staff to work for seven days at a time and it will take a lot of extra money.”
He claims, however, this is not the case and instead is “about using our resources better to provide a seven day service”.
Other speakers at the Thought Leadership Day, aimed at the Trust’s staff and NHS colleagues from the NHS across the West Midlands, included John Neill, chief executive officer at Unipart; and Dr Mark Porter, chair of the council at the British Medical Association .
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]