Sustainability and Seven Day Services Taskforce Interim Report

Introduction

In late 2013 the previous Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing set out a vision for sustainable seven day services. It focussed on providing round the clock care for those who need it the most, with a genuinely seven day service for acutely ill patients. It also stressed the importance of patients receiving the support required to move through hospital and be discharged whatever the day of the week. He recognised that the NHS had already adapted to operate on a seven day basis, but said that more needed be done to remove inappropriate variation in how care is provided at weekends. A programme was established headed by a Taskforce to drive forward progress towards that vision.

The Taskforce met for the first time in April 2014 and this interim report provides you with an update on the work undertaken to date and suggests the next steps that are required to deliver the programme.