Financial consultancy firm Deloitte has been commissioned by NHS England to examine the cost implications of expanding NHS services across seven days, HSJ has learned.

The project will examine three health economies and look at the potential cost of bringing in seven day services at acute providers, as well as community and mental health services and social care. It has not been revealed which health economies are to be examined.

It will also look at the configuration of services, the clinical case for seven day services and the workforce implications.

NHS England published 10 clinical standards for seven day services in December 2013 that largely focused on acute and emergency care.

Similar standards are being worked on to cover community and mental health services but in the past 12 months there has been mounting concern over the cost of implementing the proposals.

Under planning guidance for 2015-16, published last month, providers will need to meet at least five of the 10 clinical standards.

NHS England also said all acute providers will need to agree plans with their commissioners, setting out how they will make progress over the next 12 months on implementing seven day services.

The project by Deloitte comes alongside research being carried out by Incomes Data Services, which has been commissioned by the Office of Manpower Economics to look at the arrangements and pay for seven day working in several sectors across the UK economy.

This research is specifically aimed at informing the NHS Pay Review Body as it considers changes to the Agenda for Change pay framework and unsocial hours payments for NHS staff.

In October the British Medical Association walked away from negotiations with NHS Employers over changing medical terms and conditions, including the removal of consultants’ opt-out of non-urgent weekend and evening work.

Earlier this month NHS Employers and the Department of Health revealed radical proposals to reduce the amount of unsocial hours payment non-medical staff earn for working out of hours.

In evidence on contract talks, the BMA said: “While we cannot comment on the relevance and results of the study until it is published, we are concerned about the results being scaled up nationally.

“This is because, while it is likely to collect comprehensive data on health economies as opposed to just trusts, which we think is a sensible approach, the study relies on data from just three health economies. We do not believe this relatively narrow information could be used to comment on the likely cost implications nationwide.”

The union Unison said in a statement: “Staff side unions are aware that Deloitte has been commissioned to identify the service, workforce and financial impact of implementation and it is disappointing that staff side unions will not have sight or the opportunity to comment on this report.

“It is Unison’s belief that without serious engagement with NHS staff and proper considerations of the implications of staff moving towards a seven day care model, then any move towards the huge reconfiguration of service, which is needed, will fail.”

Deloitte refused to comment when approached by HSJ.

NHS England has yet to respond to HSJ’s enquiries for comment.

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