You can speak to an experienced nurse 24-hours a day, who quickly and efficiently can advise you as to whether there is something you can do to alleviate the problem on your own or if you need to see a nurse or a doctor. When you call the Medical Care Telephone Help-line 1177 you are charged the normal rate for a local call (an initial charge of 52 öre is added), irrespective of where in Halland you call from.

The Poisons Information Center
– answers questions concerning poisons 24-hours a day. In an emergency, call 112 – request poisons information. In non-emergencies, call 08-331231.
www.giftinformation.apoteket.se

Pharmaceutical Information Service
– answers questions concerning pharmaceuticals 24-hours a day, call 0771-46 70 10.

In the event of an emergency call 112
If there has been an accident or if someone is seriously ill, call 112 and explain what has happened. The staff at SOS Alarm has had medical training and can give you advice while you wait for an ambulance.

Self treatment
In the County Council’s self-care book ”Egenvårdsguiden”, you can read about a number of common conditions that you can treat on your own. There is also advice on when it is advisable to contact the Medical Care Services 1177. In addition, there are tips on appropriate non-prescription medicines. The book is free and it is available at the Medical Care Telephone Help-line 1177, first health centers and pharmacies across the county. You can also order it by calling the County Council’s Brochure Ordering Department, call 035-13 48 00 or via www.lthalland.se/broschyrer.

There is also advice on self-care on the County Council’s website, www.lthalland.se/egenvard

Health Center/Private doctors
In most cases when you are in need of medical care, you should contact a health center or a private general practitioner’s office. Specialists in such areas as general medicine, district’s nurses and sometimes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists can be found there. Specialists in General Medicine are doctors who are particularly skillful at evaluating a patient’s general state of health. The doctor conducts examinations, makes diagnosis and treats everything from uncomplicated complaints to difficult or chronic illnesses. If the doctor feels that your condition requires further examination or treatment from a specialist, you’ll receive help in obtaining further assistance.

District Nurses also provide consulting services at the Health Centers. There are often special services for patients with such disorders as diabetes, asthma/allergies and high blood pressure. Preventive health care is also available at the offices for people who wish to quit smoking or lose weight. Nurses with special certification have the right to prescribe certain medicines.

Hospital
The hospitals’ resources are primarily intended to be used for the examination, diagnosis and treatment of patients whose illnesses demand extra resources, are serious or unusual.

Referrals not required
Referrals are not required for specialist care at a hospital or from a private specialist, but obtaining one could be to your advantage. The referral contains information about your illness, which facilitates evaluation and continued treatment.

A referral is not necessary for treatment by a physiotherapist either, but it can sometimes expedite getting an appointment if the physiotherapist receives a referral first (it can facilitate the evaluation). It is therefore often best to start by seeking care at a healthcare center or it’s private counterpart.