BRITISH Medical Journal (BMJ) editor Dr Fiona Godlee launched an attack on Jeremy Hunt yesterday for “distorting” weekend hospital death rate figures to bolster his “seven-day NHS” plans.

The Health Secretary has repeatedly claimed that 11,000 “excess” deaths every year happen because patients are admitted to hospital over the weekends.

Mr Hunt has come under severe criticism over the past few months from junior doctors, who are told that they will have to work more hours for up to 30 per cent less pay under his proposals.

Dr Godlee wrote to Mr Hunt, stating: “You have repeatedly told MPs and the public via media interviews that these deaths are due to poor staffing at weekends, with a particular emphasis on medical staffing.

“This clearly implies that you believe these deaths to be avoidable.

“I ask you to publicly clarify the statements you have made in relation to this article to show that you fully understand the issues involved.”

Mr Hunt used information from a study co-written by NHS England Medical Director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, which was published in the BMJ last month.

It said that around 11,000 more people die every year within 30 days of being admitted to hospital on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday compared with the other three days of the week.

Even though patients admitted on weekends tend to be sicker, people were still 10 per cent more likely to die if admitted on a Sunday compared with a Wednesday.

But, researchers warned it would be “rash and misleading” to conclude that an exact number of deaths were preventable even amid a lack of consultant doctors and “reduced” services.

Health Emergency campaign director John Lister slammed Mr Hunt for using “bogus” claims in a “desperate attempt to criticise junior doctors.”

Mr Lister continued: “It’s improper for Mr Hunt to draw these conclusions. It’s like he got these figures entirely from the Daily Mail without checking what any of it means.

“It’s designed to look like the junior doctors are standing in the way of preventing these so-called avoidable deaths.

“He uses figures when they suit him but ignores them when they do not. It’s right to call him to order.”

Mr Hunt is embroiled in a row with junior doctors over a new contract, which he plans to impose from next summer.

Medics who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are going to be balloted for industrial action next month over the Tory government’s plans.

The contract will reclassify doctors’ normal working week to include Saturdays and up to 10pm every night of the week except Sunday — but for the same pay.