7 Day NHS

In 2013 NHS England proposed a 7 day NHS initiative. This has three main focuses:

  • Delivering the same quality of care all the time.

    This is currently not the case. When compared to Wednesday:

    • 10% increase in death rate on Saturday.

    • 15% increase in death rate on Sunday.

  • Ensuring the multi-disciplinary team works towards the best interests of the patient.

  • Increase the number of General Practitioner (GP) night and weekend appointments.

Although it was proposed over ten years ago, its standards are still very important in the NHS today. It proposed 10 standards to be met in over 90% of patients. Five of the most relevant are:

  • Standard 2: Emergency admissions must have a consultant/specialist-led clinical assessment within 14 hours of admission.

  • Standard 5: Hospital inpatients will have seven-day access to 6 consultant-directed diagnostic tests (Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Endoscopy, Echocardiography and Microbiology).

    • Critical: Within 1 hour

    • Urgent: Within 12 hours

    • Non-urgent: Within 24 hours

  • Standard 6: Access to 9 consultant-directed interventions for hospital inpatients seven days a week (Emergency general surgery, urgent radiotherapy, interventional radiology etc.).

    • Critical: Within 1 hour

    • Urgent: Within 12 hours

    • Non-urgent: Within 24 hours

  • Standard 7: 24/7 access to mental health services and assessments conducted by a Liaison Mental Health Service.

    • Emergency: Within 4 hours

    • Urgent: Within 24 Hours

  • Standard 8: Patients admitted under emergency must have a consultant-led review.

    • ICU (Intensive Care Unit), AMU (Acute Medical Unit), SAU (Surgical Assessment Unit): Twice a day.

    • Once a clear pathway of care has been established: Once a day.