NHS 'should operate seven days a week'

Hospitals and GPs' surgeries could soon be expected to provide more routine services at the weekend under proposals to accelerate the spread of seven-day working across the National Health Service.

The move, which threatens a confrontation with doctors who want to maintain working conditions and fear the NHS cannot afford the extra staffing required, is part of a plan which chiefs say will ensure the health service operates for the convenience of patients rather than its staff.

Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of the new NHS Commissioning Board which sets the priorities for the health service, will announce a group to draw up proposals for how services such as day surgery and outpatients' appointments can move towards a seven-day model. He said the NHS had to learn from private sector companies such as Tesco.