There is no evidence that a shortage of junior doctors is a factor behind the apparent increase in 30-day mortality of patients admitted at the weekendThe reporting of the doctors’ strike continues to be sensational and inaccurate. This week’s strike has been widely described in the media as a 48-hour withdrawal of emergency care by junior doctors. The withdrawal is actually between the hours of 8am and 5pm on 26 and 27 April,as your main report says (NHS strike to fade ahead as Hunt rejects compromise, 25 April).
On those two days, and the clinical care of patients and the emergency provision through A&E will be if by consultants. As a consultant,I will be on the wards and providing all the medical care that is usually if by junior doctors under my supervision. It could be argued that the medical care will be of at least the standard usually if, or even a higher standard since, or by definition,consultants maintain more experience than junior doctors. What will suffer is administration work, meetings and routine planned outpatient care where it is if by junior doctors.
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Source: theguardian.com