Psychiatrists in Hillerød face challenges in accommodating rising patient demand

In Hillerød, psychiatrist Jonas Astrup finds himself perplexed. He shares a part-time practice number with his colleague Peter Mark and both psychiatrists are seeking an additional practice number to accommodate more public patients. Despite applying twice for this, they have faced rejection each time.

Over the years, Astrup has observed patient waitlists grow, yet regional authorities persist in denying their request for an extra number. Currently, when Astrup reaches his limit, he fills his schedule with patients paying privately or through insurance. The demand for psychiatric services is high, but the number of practicing psychiatrists in the public sector has not increased significantly. Between 2017 and 2024, the number of psychiatrists with practice numbers rose from 113 to only 119.

The situation is dire, with waiting times soaring for non-urgent adult patients now expected to reach 103.6 weeks, compared to just 23.6 weeks in 2018. In 2023, patients waited an average of 20 weeks for their first consultations, up from 18 weeks in 2022.

Region Hovedstaden maintains there is no limit on the number of patients psychiatrists can take on, even though they face a revenue threshold, known as a “knækgrænse.” Once this threshold is met, their earnings drop significantly, discouraging them from seeing more patients. Authorities are currently reviewing this threshold in light of increasing wait times.

Inquiries across Denmark revealed a mixed response to psychiatrists seeking capacity increases, with several approvals but also many rejections, indicating a systemic issue in addressing the demand for mental health services.