4 Responses to “Dr Foster and questionable statistics”

  1. Dave Little January 11, 2012 at 9:47 pm #

    Wow, I had no idea that their methods were so superficial: send off some emails to NHS hospital management asking for data (for free?) which presumably gets delegated as far down as it will go, stick it in a stats program…. And get paid for it!
    My first thought was “good, evidence for more resources to improve the quality of clinical cover”. But perhaps the unspoken implication is that senior doctors are too lazy to be in the hospital working to save lives? Does the latter fit with a political agenda: “NHS not suitable for purpose”.
    If there is a problem with weekend cover there are all sorts of reasons why might happen which should be looked at eg the break up of the clinical firm system for cover & the dumbing down of juniors training with reduced hours & cost saving…..
    Thanks for exposing the superficiality of Dr Foster’s work.

  2. Dave Little January 11, 2012 at 10:11 pm #

    Just house sat for a couple travelling to be there when a relative had the respirator turned off, so wonder if there might be more of these deaths and “do not resuscitate” decisions at weekends when more of family are there?
    As you say in the article there are lots of possible reasons for the correlation other than causation.

  3. Margaret McCartney
    margaretmccartney January 12, 2012 at 7:25 pm #

    yes – the problem is that the numbers were treated in many quarters as high quality research rather than data which needed interpretation and nuance. alas, as always.

  4. Janey May 29, 2012 at 12:19 pm #

    Hello Margaret

    Sorry I couldn’t speak to you yesterday. But I was in the middle of Edinburgh trying to get to a meeting. Is it possible to have your number or arrange a meeting with you?

    My number again is: 07932 393974

    Kind regards
    janey

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