-
Delivering consistent healthcare services across the week and at weekends is complex and acute unscheduled care is the focus of much discussion.
-
Many services already provide seven-day cover and, given the complexity, understanding how all services interact is essential as we plan care.
-
We must look at whole systems of care, as looking at any aspect in isolation will not produce a sustainable solution.
-
Our action-effect diagram (AED) illustrates the complexity. The AED was produced following a workshop with invited expert representatives of the key multidisciplinary groups involved in delivering acute consistent weekday and weekend services.
-
Recognising that complexity is a fundamental part of producing the correct approach.
An expert workshop held in September 2015 discussed the factors that may influence patient outcomes including type of illness, staff ratios, access to diagnostic scans and tests, and the presence of senior doctors.
Workshop participants concluded that any solutions should recognise the complexities involved in delivering care across the system as well as the roles played by key staff and services including medical, nursing, pharmacy, diagnostic and allied health professionals. There also needs to be appropriate access to specialty, mental health, and community and social care at weekends. Any solution must also address the negative perceptions that exist – from both patients and staff – regarding their experience of care over weekends.