11 Health and Sickness

The Danish health service

Your GP

When you register with the national register in your municipal authority, you can choose which GP you want; whether you prefer a male or female doctor, for example.

Access to the public health service is through your GP. Your GP can treat some health problems immediately. Others may require a referral for further examination or treatment by a specialist or treatment at a hospital.

You do not need a referral from your GP if you need to go and see a dentist or if you are in acute pain and need to go to hospital emergency or require immediate hospitalisation.

Danish health insurance card

The health insurance card sent to you by your municipal authority is your proof that you are entitled to public health treatment. The card states your name, address and personal identification number and the name and address of your GP.

Provides coverage when travelling in Europe

You must take your health insurance card with you when you visit the dentist, hospital emergency or in the event of hospitalisation. You must also have it with you when you travel outside Denmark. The health insurance card provides cover if you fall ill or have an accident while travelling in Europe as long as the trip is for pleasure and you are away for less than a month. Find out more by logging onto www.sundhed.dk

In Denmark, visiting your GP is free.

Visiting your GP is free, as is hospitalisation. The costs are borne by the tax payer.

Things you have to pay for

You have to pay towards the cost of medicine, dental care and physiotherapy, for example. But you may also be eligible for a subsidy.

At the doctor's

Make an appointment

If you need to see your doctor, be sure to call and make an appointment. Most GPs have office hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. You will be given an appointment no later than five days after the time of your call. If you are feeling very unwell, your doctor will probably make room to see you the same day.

Examination, treatment or referral

The doctor will examine you and decide on the next step. You may be given a medical prescription.

The doctor can also refer you for further examination or treatment by a specialist - for example, a dermatologist or a gynaecologist. Visits to a specialist are also free. Your doctor may refer you for a form of treatment for which you are required to pay some of the costs. This might be treatment by a physiotherapist or a psychologist.

Finally, your doctor can arrange for you to be hospitalised, if this is deemed necessary.

Interpreter

Your doctor must ensure that you understand each other. If you do not speak the same language, the doctor must call for an interpreter. Find out more about using an interpreter in Chapter 4, New Citizen in Denmark.

Visiting your GP

Psychological problems

"Emotional heartache and distress"

In Denmark, it is not uncommon to suffer from psychiatric problems. Feeling emotionally distressed is not the same as being mentally ill. Many Danes seek help and get treatment for psychological problems. If you have arrived in Denmark to escape war or persecution, there may be several reasons for suffering mental problems that you would not have had under normal living conditions.

Psychiatric problems can result in physical pain

Visit your doctor if you are experiencing psychiatric problems and need help. Psychiatric problems can also lead to physical pain. If, for example, you are suffering from back pains, stomach pains or headaches without any obvious physical cause, or you are sleeping badly, you should visit your doctor. Your doctor will examine you to determine whether there is a psychiatric cause.

Asking about your problems

Your doctor might ask you if you are worried or have a lot on your mind. Whether you are experiencing marital problems. Or whether you miss your family and native country. Or whether you have been exposed to traumatic experiences such as war and torture or been held in prison.

Your doctor has to observe secrecy

Your doctor must observe secrecy, so you are not at risk talking to him or her about your problems. Whatever you say will remain between you and will not be passed on to the authorities, unless you wish it.

Psychological counselling

Your doctor may feel that your symptoms can not be treated using medicine alone. You may, therefore, be referred to a psychologist who can help you.

If you are experiencing mental anguish as a result of war or torture, your doctor will refer you to a centre for traumatised refugees.

Children can also feel poorly

You should be aware that your children may also be suffering from after affects and require help. You can talk about this with your doctor, case officer, health visitor, teachers or personnel at your child's nursery, crèche or after-school recreation scheme. They can advise you on how to proceed.

Emergency doctor service

Outside normal consultation hours

If you need the doctor after 4 p.m. on weekdays, around the clock at weekends and public holidays, you must call the emergency doctor service. You can find the telephone number of your emergency doctor service in your telephone directory or by logging onto your municipal authority's website or www.sundhed.dk.

Questions

When you call the emergency doctor service, the on-duty doctor will ask you how you are feeling. Or if you are calling on someone else's behalf, they will ask how he or she is feeling. They will ask you questions like: Do you have a fever and if so, how high is it? Are you experiencing any pain? If it is an injury, the doctor will ask questions to determine how serious it is.

Based on the answers, the doctor will assess whether you should visit your own doctor the next day, whether a doctor should visit you at home, or whether you should drive over to the emergency doctor service or go to hospital emergency. You will also be asked for your own or the patient's personal identification number.

Only use the emergency doctor service when it is absolutely necessary

Only call the emergency doctor service when it is absolutely necessary or if you are in doubt as to how sick you or your child may be.

Emergency 112

In an emergency

If someone suddenly collapses, can not breathe, suffers an accident or is attacked, you must call the emergency call centre immediately on 112.

At the emergency call centre, you will be asked your name, address and the phone number from which you are calling. The call centre will then make sure that an ambulance or the police or some other form of help is sent immediately.

Children's examinations and vaccinations

Nine examinations

From the age of five weeks to 15 years, your child will be given nine preventive health examinations by the doctor. The first seven will take place before the child begins school, the last two when the child begins and leaves school.

Examination programme

The examination follows a fixed programme. The purpose is to monitor your child's well-being and development. In this way you and your doctor can determine whether your child has any problems and take action where necessary.

Make an appointment

You must make an appointment with your doctor for the first seven examinations.

Free vaccinations

All children can be vaccinated against a number of diseases. The vaccinations are free. It is your doctor who vaccinates your child. This may take place at the same time as your child receives a normal health examination.

It is the Danish health authorities that decide which diseases your child can be vaccinated against. These are diphtheria(Di), tetanus(Te), whooping cough(Ki), polio(Pol), measles, mumps, German measles(MFR) and meningitis(Hib).

German measles

If you contract German measles during pregnancy, you risk your child being born with a handicap. For this reason you should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant if you are a woman and have not had German measles, or if you have not been vaccinated against this disease.

Other vaccinations

If you are the mother of a child and have hepatitis B, the child will be vaccinated against this disease. The child will receive the first vaccination immediately after birth. The child will receive following vaccinations when it is four to five weeks old, two months old and at 12 months.

If a member of your family has been infected with hepatitis B, the rest of the family can be vaccinated against the disease free of charge by your GP.

Vaccinations before travelling

If you need special vaccinations in connection with travel abroad, you must pay for these yourself.

Tell and ask

Health and disease are sensitive and personal issues. At the same time, we also perceive health and disease differently according to our cultural upbringing. For this reason misunderstandings can easily occur when different cultures' health perceptions meet. Especially if it is difficult to understand each other.

Hospital health personnel will tell you about your treatment, your rights and duties as a patient. It is important that you listen carefully to what they say, and respect the way things are done. But it is equally important that you tell them about your wishes and expectations. And ask questions when there is something you do not understand.

At the hospital

Examinations and treatment

You can be admitted to hospital if you suddenly suffer an injury or fall ill. Or you can be referred by your own doctor for an examination or treatment at the hospital. Many examinations and a lot of treatment take place before you are admitted to hospital. This allows you to go home the same day.

Free choice of hospital

In relation to many treatments, you can choose which hospital you wish to be admitted to. If you choose a hospital outside the region where you live, you many not be admitted due to a lack of available bed space. Talk to your doctor about your choice of hospital.

Multi-patient wards

If you are admitted to hospital, you will stay in a ward together with two or three other patients. Men and women lie in separate wards.

Rules governing food and visiting hours

Peace and quiet

People who are ill need peace and quiet. This is why most hospitals have fixed visiting hours. And hospitals expect visitors to be quiet and show consideration towards all patients.

The hospital provides meals, clothes and bathing facilities

The hospital makes sure that patients are fed, bathed, wear clean clothes and that their various needs are met. Visitors are allowed to bring fruit along, but may only bring food into the hospital after consultation with hospital personnel.

Children in hospital

Parents can spend the night with their children

Most hospitals provide stay-over facilities for the parents of hospitalised children. Parents of sick children may also stay at the hospital outside normal visiting hours.

Psychiatric hospital

Interviews and medical treatment

People who suffer so much from a psychiatric illness that they can no longer function in their daily lives may be admitted to a psychiatric ward until they feel better. Here, patients can talk about their problems and receive medical treatment. In many cases, patients take an active part in planning their own treatment. At many psychiatric hospitals it is possible to be admitted to a private ward. Psychiatric hospitals have open and closed wards.

Compulsory hospitalisation

People who are suffering from severe psychiatric illness and who pose a danger to themselves or others should be admitted to a psychiatric ward. If the person refuses, he or she may be committed if the doctor deems this necessary. Compulsory hospitalisation always takes place in closed wards.

Dental care

Dental care for children

Free dental care from 0 to 18

All children in Denmark are entitled to free dental health care from the age of 0 to 18. They attend regular dental check-ups. Here, they learn how to look after their teeth, and their teeth are treated and adjusted where necessary.

Look after milk teeth

Your child will be asked to attend a dental appointment before the age of two. Even though the child does not have any teeth, it is still a good idea to keep the appointment. And even though milk teeth fall out during the child's early years, you still need to take good care of them while they are there. Otherwise you risk damaging the permanent teeth that follow.

Many municipal authorities have dental clinics that are affiliated to schools. Some smaller authorities have an agreement with a private dentist. But here, too, children's dental care is free.

School dental care

When your child begins school, it will automatically be called for a dental check-up. Dental healthcare workers also visit schools to teach children how to look after their teeth.

It is a good idea for parents to accompany children to the dentist's while the children are small. If the child requires major treatment, the parents will first be consulted.

Adult dental healthcare

Find your own private dentist

Adults over 18 must find their own private dentist, for example, by looking in the local telephone directory. You have to pay for check-ups and treatment, but the state pays part of the cost. This amount is automatically deducted from your bill.

If you have private health insurance, you can get extra financial assistance to pay for regular and special treatment or major dental operations.

Visit your dentist regularly

It is a good idea to visit your dentist on a regular basis and not just when you have a dental problem. Your dentist may discover a cavity before it starts to cause pain. And the treatment will be less extensive and costly. You should make arrangements with your dentist about how often you should come for check-ups.

Make an appointment

You have to make an appointment and arrive at the appointed time. If you want to attend regular check-ups, your dentist will send you a reminder with an appointment for your next check-up.

Dental healthcare for people with physical and mental disabilities

The municipal authorities provide dental healthcare for people with severe physical and mental disabilities. And the state pays most of the cost.

Outside normal dental hours

If you suddenly experience severe toothache outside normal dental hours, you can visit a 24-hour dental emergency service. You will find the number listed in your local telephone directory.

Medicine

With and without a prescription

Some types of medicine can only be bought with a medical prescription. Others can be bought without. At the chemist's you can buy all kinds of medicine. Medicine requiring a doctor's prescription can only be bought at a chemist's. Medicine for light headaches, a sore throat and products designed to help people stop smoking can also be bought in supermarkets, at grocery stores and at some petrol stations.

Subsidised medicine

The state can give a subsidy towards certain types of medicine. This will depend on the finances of the individual and the amount of medicine taken in one year. Consult your doctor or chemist.

Healthy diet and exercise

Important for avoiding disease

Food provides energy and nutrition which the body needs to function. A healthy diet includes lots of fruit and vegetables and only a small amount of fat and sugar. Movement and exercise are important for a healthy life and avoiding a number of the diseases we are exposed to in our modern society.

Diabetes, heart disease and cancer

Diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer are called lifestyle diseases because they are attributable to the way in which we live. Today, we have machines to do most of the tasks that previously required physical labour. Most people have jobs where they are seated for most of the day and which involve driving to and from work. Many people lead a busy day and find it is easier to buy ready-made food instead of cooking their own healthy meals.

At risk

Food that contains too much fat or sugar, too little physical activity, smoking and too much alcohol increase the risk of lifetsyle diseases. Genes can also play a role. If your parents or siblings have type 2 diabetes, for example, you are also at risk of contracting the disease. You must therefore be especially mindful of eating healthy food and doing exercise.

Good advice about health

You can do a lot to reduce the risk of contracting a lifestyle disease. Lead a healthy life. This means: do not smoke, drink alcohol in moderation and follow eight tips from the Danish health authorities. The eight tips are listed here:

Eat fruit and vegetables - at least 600 grams a day.

If you eat at least 600 grams of fruit and vegetables a day, you will reduce the risk of getting heart disease, diabetes and cancer. If you eat an apple, orange, banana and a carrot every day and if you use vegetables in your hot meal, you will easily consume 600 grams a day. Nuts and dried fruit can also be included.

Eat fish and fish products - several times a week

Fish is healthy because it contains fish oil, vitamin D and selenium. Most other foods contain little of these ingedients. You can eat fish cooked, as a starter or on sandwiches. You can also eat herring, mackrel or tinned tuna, for example.

Eat potatoes, rice, couscous or pasta - every day

Bread, flour and corn products are healthy and contain little fat. Whole-grain bread and oatmeal are particularly healthy because they contain lots of fibre and vitamin B. Choose bread that contains little sugar and rye bread rather than white bread. White bread contains less fibre and therefore fills you up less than courser bread.

Eat only a little sugar - especially in soft drinks and cakes

Sweets contain lots of calories and very few healthy ingredients. Too many sweets leave little room for healthy food.

Eat only a small amount of fat - especially in dairy products and meat

Your body needs fat but not too much of it. It is best to use plant oil and reduce your intake of animal fat. Choose lean meats and remove extra visible fat. Choose low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese.

Eat a varied diet - and maintain your normal weight

Eat different kinds of bread, fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products every day. This will give you all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. If your weight increases, eat smaller portions and exercise more. It is easier to maintain your weight if you are physically active every day.

Quench your thirst in water

Your body needs between 1 and 1½ litres of water every day. Ordinary tap water is best because it quenches your thirst and does not contain calories.

Stay physically active - at least 30 minutes a day

Use the stairs, go for a walk. Your body needs at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. And it is a good idea to do sport once or several times a week. Children should stay active for at least an hour every day. All kinds of physical activity are healthy for children and adults, young and old. It is good for your body and general disposition, and it makes it easier to maintain your ideal weight.

Find out more by logging onto www.altomkost.dk and www.helse.dk.

Diet supplements

Vitamin D

If you have dark skin, spend most of the day indoors or ensure your skin is covered so that it does not receive much daylight, you should take a vitamin D supplement. You should take a supplement of 10 micrograms a day. Ask your chemist how best to cover your need for vitamin D. Babies and small children should be given vitamin D drops. Ask your health visitor.

The body produces its own supply of vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. But if you spend all your time indoors or in the shade, your body will find it more difficult to produce vitamin D, and few foodstuffs actually contain this vitamin. If your body does not get enough vitamin D, you may end up experiencing pain in your arms and legs and having weak muscles.

Calcium

If you do not drink enough milk or eat enough dairy products then you need to take extra calcium, between 500 and 1000 grams a day.