Immediate 24-Hour Healthcare Admission

For patients with a confirmed diagnosis who require immediate medical treatment and continuous observation, there is a municipal service that serves as an alternative to hospital admission.

Examples of situations where immediate 24-hour healthcare admission is used include:

• Pain management after a fall
• Infections (urinary tract infection, pneumonia)
• Fluid treatment
• Increasing breathing difficulties
• Worsening confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Moderate mental health issues
• Moderate substance use problems

Admission must be arranged by a general practitioner, an emergency doctor, or a hospital physician.

Patients aged 18 and older who require short-term treatment for acute conditions.

The municipality determines which patient groups they can accommodate based on the treatment they are able to provide.

The service is free of charge.

This is a legally mandated service. See particularly Helse- og omsorgstjenesteloven § 3-5.

Forskrift om kommunenes plikt til å sørge for øyeblikkelig hjelp døgntilbud
Helse- og omsorgstjenesteloven

Immediate 24-hour healthcare admission must be arranged by either a general practitioner or an emergency doctor. It is not a service you can apply for or walk into.

After admission, you will receive immediate treatment, observation, and follow-up care. A doctor will be available daily, with 24-hour on-call medical support. The healthcare team also includes nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.

If you believe you are not receiving the necessary care or are dissatisfied with the service, you can submit a complaint to the municipality or directly to the service provider. Explain what you are dissatisfied with and what changes you are requesting.

You can also file a complaint with the County Governor in your region regarding inadequate service, insufficient or incorrect information, or breaches of confidentiality.

If a serious incident occurs in connection with the service, you or a relative can report it directly to the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision by calling 474 86 882.