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Diagnosis time goals not being met

The Local Denmark
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Diagnosis time goals not being met
Photo: Lars Helsinghof Bæk/Scanpix

All patients are entitled to receive a diagnosis within 30 days when medically possible, but a new report shows that only 65 percent are being diagnosed on time.

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A law that took effect in September of last year required that Denmark’s five regions, which operate the nation’s hospitals, provide diagnoses to patients within one month of being referred to hospital by their doctor. 
 
One year later, the regions are only hitting that requirement in 65 percent of cases, according to the regions themselves. 
 
A report from Danish Regions (Danske Regioner) that was released on Monday touted “marked improvements in diagnoses” despite falling short of the requirements.
 
“Waiting times are down and that is a good sign. The diagnosis guarantee doesn’t mean that everyone will be diagnosed within 30 days. The vital thing is that we offer everyone a quick diagnosis whenever it is medically possible. That is where we want to get up to 100 percent and that is also we we need to improve,” Bent Hansen, Danish Regions chairman, said in a press release. 
 
 
The health minister, Nick Hækkerup, said the regions need to do better. 
 
“I would like to say very clearly to the regions that they are required to live up to the diagnosis guarantee. That is a right that we as a government have given to all patients in Denmark. People should be diagnosed within 30 days if it is medically possible,” he told DR. 
 
“Therefore it is not good enough of just two thirds of patients are being diagnosed in time,” he added. 

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