Emergency medical help in Norway

Norway has different services depending on how urgent your medical problem is.

Call 113 when there is a danger to life or a serious medical emergency.

Examples include severe breathing problems, unconsciousness, serious accidents and other situations where immediate emergency assistance is needed.

Call 116 117 for the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt) when you need urgent medical help but the situation is not life-threatening.

Legevakt is available 24 hours a day. When you call 116 117, you are connected to the nearest out-of-hours medical service based on where you are calling from.

You should normally contact your fastlege during opening hours for health problems that can wait until you can see your GP.

Examples of situations where legevakt may be appropriate include acute illness, serious deterioration of your condition, moderate breathing difficulties, suspected fractures, serious cuts, high fever, or urgent mental health problems.

When you contact legevakt, healthcare staff may ask about your symptoms, your address, previous illnesses and the medicines you are taking.

Do not call 113 simply because you cannot reach your GP. Use 113 when there is a serious or life-threatening emergency.

If you are unsure whether a situation is an emergency, healthcare professionals can help you assess the situation when you call.

Emergency healthcare is available to people staying in Norway. The exact rules about payment and other healthcare rights depend on your situation.

In a serious emergency, do not delay calling for help because you are worried about the cost.

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