THE ‘death rate’ at East Lancashire hospitals is higher at the weekends, according to new figures.

Bosses at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals have insisted there is ‘robust weekend staffing’, but the figures, which show an increase at weekends, prompted fresh concerns about patient care.

They also add strength to a national report, published in the British Medical Journal last month, which said patients who undergo planned surgery on a Friday are 44per cent more likely to die than those who have a procedure on a Monday.

Meanwhile, a recent inquest into the death of Haslingden mum Elizabeth Chadwick heard evidence that consultant cover at Burnley General Hospital was not as high at weekends. The Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR) statistics have been published by NHS chief Sir Bruce Keogh, who is leading a probe into ‘higher than expected’ mortality rates at 14 acute trusts.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the investigation because of its high death rate on a different indicator, while its overall HSMR is ‘within the expected range’.

However, the ratio increases from 102 during the week to 114 at weekends, with the spike attributed to non-elective (emergency) admissions, which are mainly dealt with at the Royal Blackburn.

The figure indicates there were 14per cent more deaths than expected during weekends in 2012.

Russ McLean, of the Patient Voices Group, said: “It’s back to the same old story about staffing and it’s something that needs addressing across the UK.

“The hospitals have conscientious and hard-working staff, but there just aren’t enough of them, especially at weekends.”

Rineke Schram, medical director at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said consultant ratios for non-elective admissions were ‘no different’ at the weekend, and patients were reviewed by senior doctors and consultants in the same manner as during the week.

She said: “There are no non-elective admissions at Burnley other than maternity, where consultant cover is also very good.

“Consultants are supported by experienced doctors, who provide cover in shifts 24/7.

“Furthermore, the planned ratio and skill mix of nursing and midwifery staff to care for patients is also 24 hours, 7 days per week.”