Danish hospitals rejected about 200,000 patients referred by their family doctor last year, roughly one in seven referrals, drawing criticism from patient organizations, doctors, the regions and the health minister.
According to DR, hospitals turned away around 200,000 referred patients over the past year. A rejection can happen because the hospital believes the referral went to the wrong department, or because the referral lacks information.
The figures were first reported by Jyllands-Posten on September 2. Patients are normally referred by their general practitioner for specialist examination, for example for pain, lumps or mental distress.
Praktiserende Lægers Organisation, the organization for general practitioners, told DR that referrals are sometimes rejected without any guidance on where to send the patient instead. According to the organization, that can delay diagnoses and treatment.
Figures from the Research Unit for General Practice at the University of Southern Denmark show a sharp rise over several years. The share of rejected referrals grew from about 3 percent in 2018 to about 15 percent in 2024.
Regions call the level far too high
Lars Gaardhøj (S), vice chairman of Danske Regioner, said the number is far too high and not okay at all. He pointed to better dialogue between referring doctors and Danish hospitals as the way forward.
Per Gaardhøj, part of the explanation is a health service that is highly efficient and busier than 10 or 20 years ago. He also cited increasing specialization, and described the current system as somewhat too rigid.
Morten Freil, director of Danske Patienter, an umbrella body for patient and relatives’ associations, said the consequences for patients are serious. As stated by Freil, the core problem is disagreement over the cause, with hospitals pointing to referral quality and general practitioners pointing to a lack of hospital capacity.
According to Freil, the regions must take the lead in solving the problem, regardless of the reason. He said the situation cannot be justified to patients.
Psychiatry hit hardest
The problem is particularly large in psychiatry. Jane Alrø Sørensen, general secretary of Bedre Psykiatri, called the situation indecent, noting that fast help for mental health problems shortens the road back to wellbeing.
Sørensen said a considerable share of psychiatric referrals is returned. She called for sharper triage in psychiatry, with clearer guidance on where referrals should go.
Josephine Rathenborg, chair of Lægeforeningen, the main organization for doctors in Denmark, described the many rejected referrals as deeply frustrating and highly problematic. According to Rathenborg, the aim is coherent patient pathways where patients do not fall between two stools.
Health Minister Ida Auken (S) wrote in a comment that she agrees the rejections are a problem. She stressed the need for cooperation between general practitioners and hospitals, and a shared understanding of why referrals are rejected. As noted by Auken, that work is already underway and she is following the area closely.
