Denmark is a small country of 5.5 million people, with 233 neurologists and clinical neurophysiologists working in hospitals, and only about 20–25 in private practice. There are 20 departments of neurology with 611 beds and large outpatient clinics. In many places neurologists care for all patients with stroke, but in others they care for only acute stroke patients while rehabilitation takes place in internal medicine departments. In the university-based neurological clinics, and also in an increasing number of other neurological departments, neurologists are responsible for the diagnostic evaluation, treatment and follow-up of patients with dementia, whereas in other parts of the country these patients are mainly seen by psychiatrists.

As it seems everywhere, we are reorganising our healthcare system. Now the municipalities will be the citizens’ access point to the public sector and they will take a more important role in health care, providing for example rehabilitation that does not take place during hospitalisation. In addition, they will take over preventive treatment and promotion of health, and so integrate these activities with other local services such as day care, schools, centres for the elderly, etc. Overarching these municipal activities, the five new regions in Denmark will take over the responsibility for health …