When David Cameron reaffirmed his commitment to a seven-day NHS in his first speech as prime minister after the election, it was clear that this would be a priority for his government. What is still undetermined, however, is exactly what seven–day services will look like.
Significant questions remain about where exactly the funding required to fulfil these additional services will come from. Experts cannot agree on an estimate of the costs involved, but any additional operational expense presents difficulties for cash-strapped NHS trusts.
For many staff, of course, 24/7 working is already a reality if they work in acute or emergency services. But for many professionals, seven-day working will require considerable adjustments.
So how can a seven-day NHS be made into a feasible and attractive option for workers and patients alike? What steps or changes have already been made towards 24/7 care, and what can we learn from them? How can the workforce be supported through the transition to seven-day working? Ultimately, what will a seven-day NHS look like?
Join us on Thursday 9 July to answer these questions and more. Share your thoughts in the lead up to and during the discussion on Twitter on hashtag #gdn7daynhs.
The panel
Sara Gorton, deputy head of health, Unison, @SaraSoitgoes
Don Redding, policy director, National Voices, @NVTweeting
Dr Chris Jones, a practicing GP in Wakefield, West Yorkshire and programme director, west wakefield health and wellbeing limited, @drchrisjones1
Bill McMillan, assistant director, medical pay and workforce, NHS Employers, @NHSE_Bill
Jeremy Orr, medical pay and workforce lead, NHS Employers, @nhsemployers
Howard Catton, head of policy and international affairs at the Royal College of Nursing, @HowardCatton
Janet Davies, director of nursing and service delivery at the Royal College of Nursing, @theRCN
Dr Eleanor Draeger, consultant in Genitourinary Medicine and member of the BMA consultant committee, @elsdraeger
Andrew Lovegrove, senior consultant at Skills for Health, @andrewlovegrov1
Edmund Stubbs, healthcare researcher at Civitas thinktank, @EdmundStubbs1
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). You may also get in touch via anna.isaac.casual@guardian.co.uk or @GdnHealthcare on Twitter.
Discussion commissioned and controlled by the Guardian, hosted to a brief agreed with Skills for Health. Funded by Skills for Health
