Waiting times for medical care
If you have health concerns, always start with your family doctor. Your family doctor will diagnose and treat most illnesses together with your family nurse and decide whether you need the help of a specialist.
Always start your treatment journey with your family doctor. Your family doctor will diagnose and treat most illnesses together with a family nurse and decide whether you need to see a specialist. If your health concern requires the intervention of a specialist, your family doctor will give you a referral letter to see a specialist.
You have the right to choose a specialist and book an appointment at any medical institution that has a contract with the Health Insurance Fund (Opens in a new tab)north_east. You can view the contact details of family doctors, specialists, nursing care, dental care, and mammography service providers separately.
Emergency care is guaranteed to everyone who has unexpected and very serious health problems, such as acute illness, trauma, or poisoning. In this case, go to the emergency department (EMO) of a hospital or call an ambulance by dialing 112.
People who need urgent care will be treated as quickly as their condition requires – immediately or ahead of the scheduled queue. The waiting time is determined by the doctor. Outside of hospitals, urgent care is provided by ambulances and hospital emergency departments.
There is a right place for every health concern – make sure you know where to go! This helps to shorten treatment queues.
Waiting time to see a family doctor
You must be able to see a family doctor:
- on the same day in case of an acute health problem,
- within five working days for other concerns.
Waiting time to see a specialist
The waiting time for specialist care depends on the severity of the health problem – people in a dangerous condition will see a doctor more quickly. At the same time, specialist care must be available within a period of time that does not significantly worsen the condition.
You must be able to see a doctor within the maximum waiting time established for treatment.