A new report from Region Hovedstaden (Capital Region) shows that only 13 percent of patients in child and adolescent psychiatry were evaluated within the 30 days target in March, April, and May. This stands in sharp contrast to the region’s goal of evaluating at least 70 percent of patients within this timeframe. According to Region Hovedstaden’s psychiatry committee, it is currently unrealistic to achieve this goal.
Peter Westermann (SF), chairman of Region Hovedstaden’s psychiatry committee, explains that the region is under pressure due to a significant increase in the number of referrals, creating a bottleneck in the system. “We have experienced a doubling in the number of patients from 3000 to 6300 over the past ten years, while only 25 percent more resources have been allocated to the area,” says Peter Westermann. “It is clear that we are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up.”
Health Monitor reports that the number of evaluations has significantly decreased since the region changed its reporting practices in December. The change was made following criticism from the National Audit Office, which found the previous method misleading and highly unsatisfactory. Previously, patients were noted as evaluated after the first consultation, even if the evaluation hadn’t necessarily been completed.
Nina Tejs Jørring, a senior physician and spokesperson for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society, describes the situation as “our biggest failure at the moment.” She points out that if the same figures applied to cancer treatment or cardiovascular diseases, funds would likely be found to address the issue.
The management in child and adolescent psychiatry stated in March that even with significant capacity expansions, it will be difficult to meet the requirement for evaluation within 30 days. Therefore, the region faces major challenges in meeting evaluation targets and ensuring timely treatment for the many new patients seeking help.