Study Casts Doubt On Hunt's Doctor Contracts

The Government's main argument for imposing a new junior doctors' contract has been shattered by new research showing A&E patients are no more likely to die at the weekend than on weekdays. Experts at the University of Manchester found that although the death rate is higher at weekends it is because fewer patients are admitted to hospital on Saturdays and Sundays, skewing the figures. Professor Matt Sutton, who led the research, said: "Patients with non-serious illnesses are not admitted, so those who are admitted at the weekend are on average sicker than during the week and more likely to die regardless of the quality of care they receive.