Seven-day NHS may not cut death rates, say Hunt's own officials

Seven-day NHS may not cut death rates, say Hunt's own officials Blow to health secretary’s case for ‘seven-day NHS’ as leaked report ‘cannot evidence’ link between consultant presence and mortality rates.

Jeremy Hunt’s key argument in his demands for a seven-day service in NHS hospitals has been called into question by his own department, in a leaked report which says it is not able to prove that fuller staffing would lower the numbers of weekend-admitted patients dying.

The report also admits it will be “challenging” to meet the government’s promise to recruit 5,000 more GPs by 2020, a Conservative pledge during the election campaign, and that 11,000 new staff will be needed to run a seven-day service in hospitals. Continue reading... The Guardian