Abstract
Recent reports observe poorer healthcare outcomes during the weekend. Many attribute this weekend effect to a reduced consultant presence. This study evaluates differences in labour management on weekends vs weekdays. A total of 20,187 deliveries, all resulting from spontaneous labour, in the same large UK maternity hospital were examined. Labour management was analysed both for the department as a whole, and separately for each consultant, for differences in weekend and weekday practice. Results showed no statistically significant results of a difference in any of the measures analysed. On a weekend, deliveries were no more likely to be vaginal, p = 0.485, assisted, p = 0.771 or by caesarean section, p = 0.526. There was also no difference between individual consultants. It was concluded that for spontaneous labour, there is no difference in patient management on weekends vs weekdays, either in the department as a whole, or between individual consultants in our study.
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