Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: There are concerns that quality of medical care may be poorer on weekends than weekdays. Invasive meningococcal disease, comprising septicaemia and meningitis, is often life threatening unless it is immediately and effectively treated regardless of day of the week. We test the hypothesis that numbers of deaths from meningococcal disease outside hospital without admission, and case fatality rates (CFRs) following admission, did not differ between weekends and weekdays. METHODS: Analysis of linked hospital and mortality data, England, 1999-2010. RESULTS: The study comprised 19 729 people. There was no significant difference between days of the week in the number of deaths outside hospital in people who never reached hospital care. Of people who were admitted, CFRs for weekend and weekday admissions were the same: 4.9% (262/5315) on weekends and 4.9% (678/13 798) on weekdays. We undertook sensitivity analyses and analysed multivariate models but, however the data were analysed, the result of no 'weekend effect' remained. CONCLUSIONS: There are few, if any, other acute diseases in which the difference in mortality outcome between no treatment and effective treatment is so great and unequivocally related to care itself. There was no evidence of excess deaths from meningococcal disease associated with weekend care.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/pubmed/fdt004

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Public Health (Oxf)

Publication Date

09/2013

Volume

35

Pages

413 - 421

Keywords

communicable diseases, emergency care, health services, Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Child, Child, Preschool, Databases, Factual, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Infant, Male, Meningococcal Infections, Middle Aged, Quality of Health Care, Sex Factors, Time Factors, United Kingdom, Young Adult