There is debate about the potential advantages to patients and health care facilities providing rehab services on the weekend, as opposed to hospitals, A&E and ICU.
The proposed advantages of providing weekend health services include improved clinical outcomes for patients and fewer adverse events among those admitted on the weekend. Doubt exists if weekend services are safe and effective, there is debate about working in the weekend, where the allied health system is already under strain, and patients would need their time to rest and recover from an intensive program during the week.
Rehabilitation is specialized, coordinated, multidisciplinary care to restore functional independence in patients; more intensive therapy leads to improved QoL and reduces length of stay. This may be related to increased physical activity, reduced functional decline, and patient motivation. However, very few rehab facilities do provide weekend services.
In the debate on whether to provide weekend health services, the issue of who will pay and whether providing such services is cost effective is central.
