Sentry Page Protection
Please Wait...
Motivation & Insight into Medicine 10
Do you consider the '7 Day NHS' a step forwards, and why?
Average Candidate Response
I think that this is definitely a step forward, as anything which potentially improves patient care should be encouraged.
Excellent Candidate Response
There are both advantages and disadvantages to this policy. In particular, whilst it intends to enhance patient care, I feel that there are potential negative consequences, particularly on NHS staff. This policy was implemented for numerous reasons, but the most significant was due to the supposed poorer quality of care received by patients on weekends, as opposed to weekdays. This claim suggested that this was because of reduced numbers of staff working on weekends, resulting in the plan to extend the working week to 7 days. Other changes involved in this scheme include the provision of urgent care for 24 hours a day, and an increased access to GPs, to reduce the pressure placed on emergency services. However, despite this attempt to improve healthcare access for patients, one consequential cause for concern is whether the funding is available for such a service. Furthermore, as NHS staff across the UK would be required to work for more prolonged lengths of time, there could instead be a decline in the quality of patient care provided, as healthcare professionals are placed under increasing stress. For this reason, although I do understand and agree with the objectives of the 7 day NHS, I do not believe it will be financially sustainable in the long run, and may have harmful effects on patient care.
I think that this is definitely a step forward, as anything which potentially improves patient care should be encouraged.
Excellent Candidate Response
There are both advantages and disadvantages to this policy. In particular, whilst it intends to enhance patient care, I feel that there are potential negative consequences, particularly on NHS staff. This policy was implemented for numerous reasons, but the most significant was due to the supposed poorer quality of care received by patients on weekends, as opposed to weekdays. This claim suggested that this was because of reduced numbers of staff working on weekends, resulting in the plan to extend the working week to 7 days. Other changes involved in this scheme include the provision of urgent care for 24 hours a day, and an increased access to GPs, to reduce the pressure placed on emergency services. However, despite this attempt to improve healthcare access for patients, one consequential cause for concern is whether the funding is available for such a service. Furthermore, as NHS staff across the UK would be required to work for more prolonged lengths of time, there could instead be a decline in the quality of patient care provided, as healthcare professionals are placed under increasing stress. For this reason, although I do understand and agree with the objectives of the 7 day NHS, I do not believe it will be financially sustainable in the long run, and may have harmful effects on patient care.