Delivering consistent healthcare services across the week and at weekends is complex and acute unscheduled care is the focus of much recent discussion.
Prof Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:
"A truly seven-day NHS across all services can only be successful if it is properly resourced and implemented across the whole system of care.
"The pathway of care for medically admitted patients [1] demonstrates the range of factors that impact on patient outcomes and recognising this complexity is a fundamental part of producing the correct approach.
"Many services already provide seven-day cover but understanding how all services interact is essential as we plan care. Looking at any aspect in isolation will not produce a sustainable solution."
Notes
1. The Action Effect Diagram illustrates the complexity of extending services across seven days.
2. It was produced following a workshop with invited expert representatives of the key multidisciplinary groups involved in delivering acute consistent weekday and weekend services. The data and recent research studies highlight the complexity of factors affecting patient outcomes and it is critical that these be taken into account when considering solutions.
