Doctors' chief wants to see consultants on call

Hospital consultants should work more evenings and weekends to ensure the safety of patients, the Royal College of Physicians said yesterday. Mounting evidence of poor care being provided by junior doctors out of hours means that consultants' working hours need to change, said Sir Richard Thompson, the president of the college.

"Despite major improvements in the care of acutely ill patients, they are still not getting the care they deserve at nights and weekends," he said. "Too many junior doctors are covering too many very ill patients, and this has to change."

Sir Richard said all hospitals admitting acutely ill patients should have a consultant physician on site for at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Routine clinics should be cancelled, and the consultant should devote themselves exclusively to caring for the urgent patients.

The intervention by one of Britain's most senior doctors comes as the Government is preparing to hand back responsibility for out-of-hours care outside hospital to GPs, after it was ceded to primary care trusts in 2004. The dangers for hospital patients who find themselves in inexperienced hands have been highlighted in reports from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Deaths.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Sir Richard Thompson is right, patients do deserve better care at night and weekends, and senior doctors should be available to provide acute medical care as needed."