If you are resident in Denmark, you will have chosen a doctor when you registered on the Folkeregister at your local town hall.
The majority of Danes speak good English so it is
unlikely that you will need to seek out an English speaking doctor. The general
procedure to meet your GP is to call and make an appointment, either on the
same day or the following days depending on how serious the illness is. Most
doctors also have phone consultations 1 hour a day. To make an appointment with
a medical specialist, physiotherapist, psychologist or a chiropodist , you will
first need a referral from your GP. Payment is normally covered by your insurance.
If you however need medical consultation while waiting for your insurance to
come through, you will have to pick up the tabs yourself.
Opening hours and Emergency
doctor: Danish doctors' opening hours are typically between 8 am
and 4 pm. Some doctors have extended opening hours one or more days a week.
In case of emergencies, you can also contact the emergency doctor. The emergency
doctor's number is in the phone book and if he finds it necessary, the emergency
doctor will come to your house. It is a good idea to have your health insurance
certificate and information about your consumption of medicine ready, when you
call the emergency doctor. This makes it easier for the doctor to assess the
situation.
The majority of Danish hospitals are administered publicly (by the counties)
and treatment is free of charge if you reside in Denmark. You can get assistance
from an interpreter at the hospitals if the doctor finds it necessary.
You are free to choose the hospital you want to be hospitalized in. In most
cases hospitalization only requires a referral from a doctor.The waiting lists
depend on the hospital and the kind of treatment you need. You could also opt
to be admitted to a private hospital or clinic. This however can be an expensive
affair as you will have to pay for your own treatment. Some private insurances
subsidise treatments in private hospitals.