Health Services and Delivery Research November 2017, 5(30)
- Retrospective observational analyses of hospital episode data in England, using both national data and data from a single, large acute NHS trust.
- Nationally excess mortality out of hours was largely explained by a sicker population of patients being selected for admission. However, mortality rates were still elevated on Sunday daytimes after severity of patient illness was accounted for. Mortality rates are also elevated for patients admitted during night-time periods.
- The estimated cost of implementing 7-day services exceeds the maximum amount that the NICE would recommend the NHS should spend on eradicating excess mortality at weekends.
