Letters
Weekend staffing and mortality
Dr Foster’s correlation oversimplifies complicated and multifactorial problem
BMJ 2012; 344 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2430 (Published 02 April 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e2430- Colin M A Wasson, associate medical director, intensive care consultant1
- 1Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport SK2 7JE, UK
- colin.wasson{at}stockport.nhs.uk
Like many trusts across the country, we were worried by Dr Foster’s report of increased mortality at weekends and the correlation with reduced levels of medical staffing.1 I routinely review the case notes of all patients who die, looking for learning points or systematic errors that could be rectified. Recently, I reviewed 53 consecutive deaths, specifically comparing weekday …
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