All mothers-to-be will now have the right to home visits

The Government and the Danish Regions have agreed to introduce a new maternity agreement that benefits vulnerable pregnant women.

All women giving birth will soon be entitled to a home visit by healthcare professionals the day after discharge.

This is one of several initiatives to strengthen the birth sector, which the government and the Danish Regions have reached an agreement on the implementation of. This is stated by the Ministry of the Interior and Health.

The reinforcement, which is based on a broad political agreement from December 2024, allocates around 68 million kroner from this year onwards.

First-time mothers have the right to receive home visits, but the scheme is being expanded so that multiple mothers who are discharged within 24 hours are offered home visits after consultation with healthcare personnel.

The offer must come into effect no later than September 1st of this year.

Minister of the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde (V) hopes that the agreement will ensure ‘good and safe conditions’ for those giving birth and their families.

“This applies regardless of whether it is the first, second or third time you become a parent,” says Løhde in a press release.

The home visit will generally take place the day after discharge, but the woman giving birth can also exercise the right in one of the first days after birth.

The initiative has received positive feedback and generally makes ‘really good sense’. This is according to Lis Munk, chairwoman of the Danish Midwives’ Association.

“The vast majority of families want to go home as soon as possible. And getting to a check-up can be overwhelming in itself, so it’s a really good service to give to families that we come and visit them at home,” she says.

In the implementation agreement, the parties also agree to accommodate ‘vulnerable pregnant women and women giving birth’ by focusing on more continuity in the birth process.

Pregnant women should increasingly meet the same midwives and other healthcare professionals during pregnancy and after birth.

At the same time, funds are being allocated for a recruitment and retention package.

The money will be used to attract new healthcare personnel and improve working conditions in maternity wards across the country.

The birth agreement builds on an agreement from 2022, which at that time ensured the right to home visits or two-day maternity leave for first-time mothers.

ritzau