And it’s not because we don’t like working weekends, writes Professor Rónán Collins.
A hospital consultant explains that doctors dread Friday night on-call shifts due to increased workload and limited access to essential services like MRI, physiotherapy, and patient medical histories. The consultant argues that simply increasing consultant availability won't solve the trolley problem and highlights how hospital capacity, catchment demographics, and the closure of acute facilities impact trolley wait times. Prioritizing trolley numbers can negatively impact other critical services. The consultant argues the new contract was never intended to address the trolley problem and advocates for comprehensive seven-day services to improve patient care.
