Free Hospital Choice
Free Hospital Choice is a scheme that allows patients to be referred for assessment/examination/treatment by the specialist health service at a hospital or treatment centre of their choice.
The right to choose a hospital extends to all planned examinations, assessments and treatments in the area of physical health (somatic treatments), mental health, and cross-discipline specialist treatment for substance abuse.
It does not cover acute admissions / emergency care.
Referrals
Have you been referred for treatment or examination in the specialist health service? Then you have the right to choose your place of treatment. This is how you proceed. (helsenorge.no/en)
When referring a patient to the specialist health service for assessment/treatment, the referral should be sent to the patient's local hospital.
If the patient requests it, the referral may be sent to a different public or private hospital or to a regional psychiatric clinic (DPS) with which the local health trust has an agreement.
Travel expenses
The cost of travelling to treatments is met by the patient's regional health authority. The patient only has to pay an excess (NOK 135 each way) if he/she chooses a specialist/hospital or x-ray clinic within the regional health authority.
In order for travel expenses to be reimbursed, the regional health authority must have entered into agreements with private service providers.
If the patient chooses to travel out of the region to receive treatment, the patient must pay a higher excess for the travel (NOK 400 each way).
The Regulations on Entitlement to Refund of Patient Travel Expenses for Examinations or Treatments.
Want to find out more?
On the service site Velg behandlingssted you will find information that may be important to you when choosing your place of treatment.
You can:
You can:
- compare estimated waiting times at different treatment centres.
- find information about the number of treatments performed at a treatment centre within a year.
Talk to your GP or call Guidance Helsenorge at +47 23 32 70 00 if you want guidance or advice for choosing a place of treatment.
Or contact the Helse Vest patient helpline on 800 41 005
Last updated 6/7/2023