The average waiting times for hospital treatment increased during and after COVID-19, reaching 47 days in 2022 and 2023 [1].
As a response, the government and the interest organization for the regions, Danish Regions, agreed on an emergency plan (Akutplanen) in 2023 with several measures to increase capacity and reduce waiting times. The measures included financial incentives for specialized nurses and increasing enrollment in specialist training programs. Other measures focused on removing organizational bottlenecks and improving hospital capacity [2].
New data shows that the average waiting times for hospital treatment have decreased to 38 days at the end of 2024, reaching pre-COVID-19 levels [1].