Researchers find total number of hospital deaths is lower on the weekend

When it comes to the total number of hospital deaths, the number is actually lower on weekends than weekdays.

However, patients admitted to the hospital on weekends in the U.K. suffer higher death rates than patients admitted on weekdays. Stick with us -- there may be a reason for that.

SEE ALSO: Dozens of statues stolen from cemetery

Researchers from Manchester University and York University wanted to find out if the higher death rates on weekends had anything to do with staffing numbers.

The study said while fewer patients are admitted in the emergency room on weekends, the people admitted are often sicker, which might explain a higher death rate.

One of the researchers told the Guardian, "Hospitals apply a higher severity threshold when choosing which patients to admit to [hospitals] at weekends — patients with non-serious illnesses are not admitted."

The study called it the "selection effect," but found no link between having more doctors on call and lower death rates.