7 Day NHS Flashcards
What do you know about the 7-day NHS?
The 7 day NHS was part of the 2015 Conservative manifesto and set out the goal of anyone being able to see their GP any day of the week during normal working hours, and hospitals being staffed adequately for the quality of care to be the same on any given day of the week. This was based on research done on the ‘Weekend Effect’ performed by Nick Freemantleet alin 2012 and reinforced by further work in 2015. They concluded that around 11,000 more patients died each year if admitted on the weekend vs if admitted during the week.
- remember to consider both sides of the debate
- refer to the difficulty of making conclusions on the research for this topic
- Due to the (relatively) low number of deaths being assessed, and the inherent difficulties in conducting research in this area, only large trusts have been able to provide sufficient data to work off
- Remember to explain that you believe decisions should be made based on published evidence, and in the best interests of patients – but that a demoralised workforce, or one that is overworked, and is a risk to patients as well.
Do you think that the government was right to work towards a 7 day NHS?
there are two stances i have to take:
1) YES
The BMJ concluded that there was indeed a verifiably increased risk for those admitted on the weekend.
- Summarising some of the evidence that shows notable excess deaths:
- Imperial College in 2010 found 3400 excess deaths associated with emergency admissions to NHS Hospitals in England on the weekend in 2005-2006,
- additionally Nick Freemantle’s group published their research upon which the government first based its policy,
- in 2015 researchers at the University of Manchester found either 4400 or 5400 excess deaths in 2010-2011.
This may make it seem like the move to a 7-day NHS is logical.
2) NO
explain that you believe decisions should be made based on published evidence, and in the best interests of patients – but that a demoralised workforce, or one that is overworked, and is a risk to patients as well.
CONC
Overall, I believe that a properly instigated move to a 7 day NHS – one that takes into account the thoughts of doctors and healthcare professionals working in hospitals and GP practices – is a sensible and correct decision but would require huge investment and the training of additional staff.
- remember to consider both sides of the debate
- refer to the difficulty of making conclusions on the research for this topic
- Due to the (relatively) low number of deaths being assessed, and the inherent difficulties in conducting research in this area, only large trusts have been able to provide sufficient data to work off
- Remember to explain that you believe decisions should be made based on published evidence, and in the best interests of patients – but that a demoralised workforce, or one that is overworked, and is a risk to patients as well.
What problems are there in trying to maintain the same level of staffing on the weekend as during the week?
First and foremost is the obvious fact that no-one – not even the most hardworking doctor or nurse – is likely to actively enjoy working on the weekend or elect to do so.
There must therefore be some consideration given to their pay on the weekend, although the Conservatives new Junior Doctor Contract was pushed through with little regard for doctors’ thoughts on this matter. If we are to increase staffing on the weekends, this additionally raises the question of where the extra staff come from – understaffing is already an issue.
Unless we are able to train large numbers of additional healthcare workers, we must make use of the existing pool.
Therefore, using them on the weekend would mean for less availability during the week, and possibly therefore reduced standards of care during the week.
- remember to consider both sides of the debate
- refer to the difficulty of making conclusions on the research for this topic
- Due to the (relatively) low number of deaths being assessed, and the inherent difficulties in conducting research in this area, only large trusts have been able to provide sufficient data to work off
- Remember to explain that you believe decisions should be made based on published evidence, and in the best interests of patients – but that a demoralised workforce, or one that is overworked, and is a risk to patients as well.
Why do you think that being able to see the GP during the evening or at the weekend is so important for many people?
- As it stands, seeing one’s GP can be a far more complex and time-consuming procedure than it ought to be.
- Additionally, many people may have an urgent complaint that does not fit with what might be suitable for an A&E, and therefore wish to see their GP on short notice.
- Many people who have work or children to care for will simply be unable to attend a GP surgery at the times that they are open and offer appointments.
- As we move into the future, I would expect telemedicine and wearable technology to relieve some of this pressure, with people being able to remotely consult their GP and GPs being able to better monitor their patients.
- remember to consider both sides of the debate
- refer to the difficulty of making conclusions on the research for this topic
- Due to the (relatively) low number of deaths being assessed, and the inherent difficulties in conducting research in this area, only large trusts have been able to provide sufficient data to work off
- Remember to explain that you believe decisions should be made based on published evidence, and in the best interests of patients – but that a demoralised workforce, or one that is overworked, and is a risk to patients as well.
Do you believe that doctors thought a 7-day NHS was in the best interests of their patients?
Doctors did not support the move – not out of self-interest, but because they believed it would be damaging to patients. The President of the Royal College of Physicians, Prof Jane Dacre, explained that there simply were not enough doctors in the country to run a 7 day NHS, and that the service was already understaffed. If the doctors were therefore forced to work weekends, these issues with staffing would become even more pronounced, leading to serious issues in the week as well. Junior doctors chose to strike over their new contract, chiefly because it was designed to make it cheaper to rota staff over the weekends – essentially meaning they would be working more weekends and less weekdays.
- remember to consider both sides of the debate
- refer to the difficulty of making conclusions on the research for this topic
- Due to the (relatively) low number of deaths being assessed, and the inherent difficulties in conducting research in this area, only large trusts have been able to provide sufficient data to work off
- Remember to explain that you believe decisions should be made based on published evidence, and in the best interests of patients – but that a demoralised workforce, or one that is overworked, and is a risk to patients as well.
