Care and health

Severe emergency illnesses or accidents (Akut svår sjukdom eller olycka)

Ill or injured persons can also make their own way
to the closest emergency ward.
There are emergency wards in Norrköping, Linköping
and Motala, and they are always open.

Medical advisory service (Sjukvårdsrådgivningen 1177)

The medical advisory service is open 24 hours a day,
every day of the year.

When you call the medical advisory service,
you will be able to speak with a nurse
who can explain what you should do.

The medical advisory service can only provide information
in English or Swedish.

The medical advisory service is also accessible on the Internet.
You can receive advice, tips and answers to many questions
about medical care and health matters at www.1177.se.

Illnesses or medical needs thar are not emergencies

(Sjukdom eller vårdbehov som inte är akut)

There are doctors and nurses at the district health centres.
They perform examinations and treat
both serious and non-serious illnesses.

Many people find it difficult
to make an appointment at their district health centres.
It is often necessary to call the district health centre,
leave your name and phone number on an answering
machine and then wait for staff from the district health
centre to call back.

Those who do not speak Swedish or English must ask
someone for help.
But if you will be seeing a doctor, you always have
the right to an interpreter.
Inform the district health centre in advance.

All district health centres are open during the day
on weekdays.

Specialist or hospital care (Specialist eller sjukhusvård)

To see a specialist doctor or to get an appointment
at a hospital,  you must always first go to a
district health centre.

It is important to keep in mind
that the doctors at the hospitals have a lot to do
and that the wait can often be long
to see a doctor there
or to schedule X-rays or an operation.

When seeing a doctor at a hospital,
you always have the right to an interpreter.

Self-care (Egenvård)

You can receive tips and advice on what you
should do at the medical advisory service´s website www.1177.se.
At www.1177.se, you also obtain information
about when you should seek medical care.
 

This is good to have at home

(Detta är bra att ha hemma)

If you have an insect bite,
it is good to have a tick remover, calamine lotion
and a hydrocortisone ointment.

If you have a fever, infection
or other ailment, it is good to have a
fever thermometer, nasal spray or nose drops,
a non-prescription pain-relieving
and fever-reducing drug, anti-allergy tablets
and motion-sickness tablets.
For families with small children,
it can also be good to have a fluid replacement at home
if the children are inflicted with diarrhoea
or extensive vomiting.

If you have many pharmaceuticals at home,
it is good to check that they have not
become outdated, and subsequently lost their effect.

Health communicators (Hälsokommunikatörer)

The health communicators speak many languages,
know a lot about different cultures
and are knowledgeable in health and medical care.

The health communicators
help newly arrived refugees
and other immigrants
to understand the Swedish health and medical care system.

The health communicators can give lectures,
and arrange and conduct information meetings.

They can inform of the Swedish medical care system
and provide advice about food
and how you can best care for your teeth.

They can lecture in Somali,
Arabian, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.
 

Diet and physical activity (Kost och fysisk aktivitet)

Eating good and getting exercise
can prevent medical problems, such as heart and lung diseases,
type 2 diabetes, strokes,
muscular dysfunctions,
certain forms of cancer and even mental illness.

The body needs energy and nutrition to
function well.
The body functions better
if we eat regular breakfasts, lunches, dinners
and something in between.

The National Food Administration
provides us with five tips for healthy eating:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, preferably500 gramsdaily.
• Eat bread with every meal, preferably whole wheat.
• If possible, choose groceries with the keyhole label.
• Eat fish often, preferably three times a week.
• Use oil or liquid margarine for cooking when possible.

The plate model (Tallriksmodellen)

Regular exercise is good for your health.
You can exercise lightly by walking or riding a bike every day for 30 minutes.
You can also exercise strenuously
by jogging, or playing tennis or football
at least three times weekly.
Children should exercise at least 60 minutes each day.

Hospitals in Östergötland (Sjukhus i Östergötland)

University Hospital in Linköping (Universitetssjukhuset i Linköping)

Vrinnevi Hospital in Norrsköping (Vrinnevisjukhuset i Norrköping)

General Hospital in Motala (Lasarettet i Motala)