Hospitals must be able to maintain operations for 24 hours in the event of supply failures

The Danish Health Authority has issued new guidelines that tighten the requirements for the regions’ health emergency preparedness. In the future, Danish hospitals must be able to plan to maintain close to normal operations for a minimum of 24 hours in the event of supply failures, such as during widespread power outages.

The background for the guidelines is the Danish Health Authority’s assessment of the current threat and risk landscape. On this basis, the Authority finds it necessary to strengthen hospitals’ resilience to major security-related incidents. The guidelines have been prepared at the request of the Minister of the Interior and Health and are based on dialogue with the regions.

The Danish Health Authority recommends that health emergency preparedness be planned according to three levels: close to normal operations for 24 hours, reduced operations for up to three days, and emergency operations for up to seven days. The aim is to ensure that hospitals can handle both short-term and longer-lasting supply failures without having to make major reductions in treatment capacity.

Under “close to normal operations,” the hospital must be able to continue most activities, with the possibility of temporary adjustments. Under “reduced operations,” it may be necessary to postpone planned surgeries and outpatient visits. Under “emergency operations,” critical and life-saving treatment is prioritised, while other health activities may be temporarily suspended.

The guidelines are intended to support the regions in preparing the healthcare system for future crises and to ensure the continued treatment of patients – even under extraordinary circumstances.

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