Patients in hospital have a right to the same standard of care seven days a week and should be reviewed by a consultant at least once every 24 hours in most circumstances, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has recommended.

In a new report published this week, the academy, which brings together 20 colleges and faculties, indentifies three key standards to ensure that all patients receive high quality, consultant led care led throughout the week.

Seven Day Consultant Present Care highlights substantial variation in the availability of consultants and other senior doctors across different locations and areas of medicine at different times in the week.1

It urges the NHS to ensure that “appropriate resources and adequate numbers of consultants” are provided at all times to deal with “unacceptable” deficiencies in …