Emergency medical admissions at weekends are older and more functionally dependent than those admitted on weekdays

The recent announcement by the UK’s Health Minister of the need for reform in the delivery of inpatient medical care has seemingly been triggered by evidence showing poorer outcomes for patients admitted to hospital at the weekend.1 While differences in staffing levels might have a part to play in this, other factors may also be important. We analysed the characteristics of patients admitted to the Acute Medical Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast during November 2012. This is a large unit in a major teaching …