The Royal College of Physicians is seeking an urgent meeting with the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, in the light of recent figures which show that three-quarters of hospitals have no specialist consultant cover at weekends.

The RCP says that despite improvements in care there was still concern about the specialist care patients receive at night and at weekends and says that consultants should be present in the hospitals at least 12 hours a day seven days a week. It adds that they should work solely in the acute admissions wards rather than having to perform other routine duties.

Sir Richard Thompson, president of the college, said that whilst improvements had been made, too many patients in hospital overnight and at weekends were not receiving the care they deserved and added: "Too many junior doctors are covering too many very ill patients, and this has to change. Our evidence shows that a predominantly consultant-delivered medical service is the best way to improve patient care."

To move towards that aim, there will have to be greater recruitment as consultants at the present time work an average of 50 hours a week rather than the 45.5 hours stipulated in their contracts, whilst more than half work more than the European Working Time Directive of 48 hours.

Dr Jonathan Potter, clinical director of the RCP's Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit, said that improvements in staffing and facilities did not hide the fact that senior doctors had to be more readily available in order to provide a "consultant led service in acute medical admissions units seven days a week".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/02/hospitals-lack-consultants