​​More specialist doctors came to work at the hospitals in Region Zealand during the period when the Capital Region of Denmark had a qualified recruitment freeze of specialist doctors.  The qualified recruitment freeze means that each hospital management is tasked with continuously assessing whether it is necessary to recruit doctors for the operation of individual departments.

Now, a majority in the Executive Committee in the Capital Region of Denmark has decided to extend the qualified recruitment freeze of specialist doctors. The goal is to strengthen medical coverage throughout Eastern Denmark and ensure that hospitals in the Capital Region of Denmark can comply with the specialist doctor cap. At the same time, the number of doctors in unclassified positions must continue to be monitored to ensure it does not increase.

This is stated by the chairman of the Regional Council in the Capital Region of Denmark, Lars Gaardhøj (Social Democratic Party).

“Everything indicates that the qualified recruitment freeze is having the desired effect. While the number of specialist positions is decreasing in the capital, we are seeing an increase in specialist doctor appointments at hospitals in Region Zealand. At the same time, Region Zealand is investing in strong, professional environments, and overall, the initiatives are beginning to bear fruit, which is why we must stick with it,” says Lars Gaardhøj (Social Democratic Party) and continues: 

 “For example, more permanent doctors have joined Zealand University Hospital in Nykøbing F., and the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department now has full medical coverage, which is really positive and a step towards a fairer healthcare system. It’s great work out in the Region’s hospitals.”

There has been a decrease in the number of specialist doctor positions in the Capital Region of Denmark, but the number of hospital positions remains above the specialist doctor cap included in the healthcare reform. The hospitals’ work in this area since the introduction of the qualified recruitment freeze in May 2025 has so far resulted in a decrease of 24 specialist doctor positions across the included hospitals.

Recruitment in psychiatry must continue

​​The Executive Committee has also decided that hospitals must not employ disproportionately many newly qualified specialist doctors in psychiatry. 

Child and adolescent psychiatry is not covered by this political decision and can recruit as usual. 

A crucial management task

Regional Director in the Capital Region of Denmark, Jens Gordon Clausen, states that the hospital management has an intense managerial focus on solving the task.

“For the Capital Region of Denmark, it is a compulsory task that we comply with the specialist doctor cap and support medical coverage across the whole of the Region of Eastern Denmark. All citizens in the Region of Eastern Denmark must have equal access to healthcare. Therefore, we will continue the qualified recruitment freeze, which is a task that requires prioritisation in hospitals, and we are closely monitoring the initiative,” he says, adding: 

“Concerns have been raised about how the recruitment freeze may affect positions that involve research. It is important for me to say that there will still be strong research environments. Research must be conducted at all hospitals, and, where needed, the research environments must be strengthened. This can also help to enhance professionalism and make positions at individual hospitals even more attractive.  An example is the Child and Adolescent Department at Central and West Zealand Hospital in Slagelse. The department has built a strong research environment in recent years, and its focus on research plays a significant role in recruiting doctors.”

The qualified recruitment freeze will be evaluated again before the end of 2026, after which it will be decided whether the initiative should continue into 2027, when Region Zealand and the Capital Region of Denmark will merge into the Region of Eastern Denmark.

Facts

Regarding the qualified recruitment freeze:

A majority in the Executive Committee in the Capital Region of Denmark has decided to extend the qualified recruitment freeze for specialist doctors and monitoring of doctors in unclassified positions until the end of 2026.

Unclassified positions are not part of a training programme.

The Executive Committee has also decided that hospitals must not employ disproportionately many newly qualified specialist doctors in psychiatry.

Child and adolescent psychiatry is not covered by this political decision and can recruit as usual. 

​