Hospital death rates higher on holidays

Being admitted to hospital with internal bleeding on a bank holiday pushes up the risk of dying by 41 per cent, researchers have claimed.

Inadequate staff cover and a lack of access to hospital tests means patients are more likely to die than those admitted on normal week days.

Admission at a weekend also increases the risk of death by 13 per cent.

The research, by experts at the University of Swansea, looked at admissions for upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, which can be caused by a range of conditions including ulcers and gastritis.

It confirms other studies which show a higher chance of dying if a person is admitted to hospital on weekends.

Yesterday's study, published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, analysed more than 24,000 admissions for upper GI bleeding between 1999 and 2007.

Lead author Dr Stephen Roberts said: "The higher death rates for weekend and public holiday admissions could not be explained by differences in the patients admitted and may be down to reduced staffing levels or delays in investigative procedures such as endoscopy (an internal examination).

"It is very clear from our research that further studies are needed to understand why death rates are much higher at weekends and on public holidays than during the week."

Dr Roberts said fewer staff and a lack of consultants could lead to numerous issues, including less rigorous assessments, poor communication at handover meetings and delayed investigations.