For a long time the media and politicians have focused too sharply on the highly specialised treatment in hospitals generally and, not least, at the coming super hospitals. But now we are on the way over to the other extreme. Many people are now calling for focus on the local health service.

2015.06.24

By Allan Flyvbjerg, Dean and Professor, Health, Aarhus University

The local health service is e.g. the title of Local Government Denmark’s (LGDK) health proposal from May. Most recently, the chairman of the Organisation of General Practitioners in Denmark (PLO) has recommended employing more doctors to meet the increasing pressure on general practitioners. The challenges faced by the primary care sector have also been the subject of extensive debate during the recent election campaign and, not least, at Denmark's Political Festival on the island of Bornholm.

A new study by the Danish Nurses' Organisation (DNO) has also recently shown that one in five patients and one in four relatives have experienced relevant information about patient treatment, medicine and medical history going missing somewhere between the hospital, the patient’s own general practitioner or the municipality. This is clearly not good enough!

Undoubtedly there is good reason to welcome the municipalities, general practitioners and other's wishes to strengthen the local health service. Of course patients should also receive highly qualified and evidence-based treatment outside the hospitals. A well-functioning primary sector is crucial for a good health service. However, the study from the Danish Nurses' Organisation (DNO) clearly shows that it is the lack of coherence that is the Achilles heel here – as many no doubt already were aware. So instead of talking about the local – and thus the hospitals as the remote healthcare system, we should instead talk about the coherent health service.

Consequently, the solution is not to draw up different plans for different sectors. The solution is to draw up a plan for how we create coherence in the health service, so that patients do not get trapped in the middle during treatment. There are presently far too many serious unintended incidents when a patient is transferred from one health sector to another.

At the top of my wish list – and also that of many citizens and patients I believe – for the coming Danish Minister for Health is this; to once and for all have special focus on preparing a coherent plan for the health sector.

This will require that all parties – the minister, regional politicians, trade unions, municipal managers and special interest organisations – aim for the same common goals. Common goals for a coherent health service should be everyone’s top priority instead of special interests, be these economic, political or narrow special interests, which is what we have all too often seen happen previously.

Published in Altinget on 17 Junei 2015.