Cardiovascular emergencies presenting a problem to Danish hospitals

Life-saving ultrasound tests not available at all times

Lucie Rychla

Sep 23, 2015

Every seventh hospital department for cardiovascular emergencies cannot perform heart ultrasound tests, the so-called echocardiography, on weekends or at nights, a new study shows.

The findings are in stark contrast with the recommendations of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority that these departments should be able to perform echocardiogram examinations round-the-clock.

Patients may not make it
Quick diagnoses and treatment of patients with acute heart disease condition is essential for their survival.

The national cardiology society Dansk Cardiologisk Selskab (DCS) has called the current situation “unstable”.

“I think it is a problem because we are providing citizens with an unequal access to health, and in some situations patients may not be able to make it, ” Christian Gerdes, the head of DCS, told DR Nyheder.

Similarly, Kim Høegh, the managing director of the heart foundation Hjerteforeningen believes that delayed access to an ultrasound test can have serious consequences for patients hospitalised with acute heart disease.

Every year, some 52,000 Danes are hospitalised due to a cardiovascular problem.

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