Seven-day hospitals

SIR – For NHS consultants to work seven days a week is generally wellintended. However, I would like to voice a note of caution to Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, with regard to planned, elective surgical procedures. A recent article in The British

Journal of Surgery demonstrated that elective operations carried out on Friday were associated with significantly worse outcomes than those carried out at the beginning of the week. Good surgical care is not merely dependent on the surgeon, it requires valued support from nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and radiographers – fewer of whom work at the weekend.

So for this approach to work safely, the seven-day premise needs to be introduced across all disciplines. This would mean that overall staffing numbers would need to be significantly increased – with resulting cost implications.

Mark Davies FRCS

Swansea SIR – I would suggest that the Government puts its own house in order over working practices before having a go at the NHS.

Most MPs have a very simple life, appear in the chamber when it suits them, adjourn to a subsidised bar and restaurant, or tell us they are meeting constituents or sitting on a committee. They also have Fridays off, and let’s not talk about their long holidays.

Because of the cut-backs, doctors and nurses and the back-up personnel have no facilities during the night, nor are they allowed to claim huge expenses.

I would be delighted to meet my MP on a Sunday morning, say around 6.30. Fat chance of that happening.

Ray Williams

Chigwell, Essex