How we can cure the 'Friday effect' in the NHS Evidence of the "Friday effect" - the increased risk of adverse outcomes following surgery performed at the end of the week - might seem to be yet further dreary confirmation of the failings of the health service. But, paradoxically, this is an important and welcome development on several counts. Specifically, the findings make explicit what until now has only been suspected. The overall statistics are serious enough, but in absolute terms the mortality rates following major surgery (on the stomach and colon, resection of the lung and coronary bypass surgery) show a consistent (and thus indisputable) upward trend, from around 20 per thousand operations on Monday to 30 per thousand on Friday. Now it has become possible to envisage ways of minimising the Friday effect. The expedient of restricting such operations (especially on the old and frail) to earlier in the week could save several hundred lives a year. The findings might also prompt, one hopes, long-overdue measures to restore continuity of patient care by requiring junior doctors to work longer hours, and ensuring consultants keep a beady eye on the progress of patients over the weekend. The Achilles tendon, by which famously the goddess Thetis suspended her son in the River Styx, is the thickest and strongest in the body, as it has to be able to provide the elastic energy necessary for walking and running. It has, however, a relatively poor blood supply and is thus prone to injury from repetitive trauma, posing a challenge to doctors who specialise in treating sports injuries. This explains the current enthusiasm for autologous blood injections. The procedure involves injecting small amounts of blood around the tendon, which contain proteins that can reputedly initiate formation of new tissue. "Many experts, athletes and coaches swear by this treatment," observes Nicola Maffuli, professor of musculoskeletal disorders, writing in the British Medical Journal. Sceptics wonder whether the benefits may come from the physical effects of the procedure itself - and, intriguingly, this appears to be the case. Dr Kevin Bell of the Sydney Sports Medicine Centre has shown in a study of patients with Achilles tendinopathy that "needling" the tendon (as in acupuncture) is as effective as autologous blood injections. Fascinating. This week's most puzzling conundrum comes courtesy of Mr RA of Surrey, who has recently "gone electric." This started out of the blue six weeks ago with a flash of electricity from all five fingers when visiting the bathroom at night. Subsequently he experienced a nasty shock when touching metal taps or door handles. This went on for a month although, gratifyingly, he has been shock-free for the past fortnight. His wife suggested that he should consider hooking himself up to the National Grid. "An explanation would be most welcome," he remarks. Finally, further to the fortuitous benefits of a Christmas gift of crystalised ginger in curing swollen finger joints, as recently featured in this column, a reader troubled for years with arthritis in her hands recommends cod liver oil in milk. Her morning ritual is as follows: "On rising I have a cup of tea, and 10 minutes later shake together four tablespoons of milk and one tablespoon of cod liver oil to a slow count of 10. Once swallowed, wiping the lips eliminates the taste of the oil. Since adopting this regime, she finds she can now turn on a tap, shake hands and even wring out a cloth without excruciating pain. Email your medical questions confidentially to Dr James LeFanu at drjames@telegraph.co.uk. Answers will be published on the Telegraph website every Friday, at telegraph.co.uk/health