Legevakt & Emergencies
Legevakt og nødnumre
Why this matters
Knowing which number to call and which facility to go to can be the difference between fast help and a long wait. Norway has a tiered emergency system — use the right level for your situation and save the emergency rooms for true emergencies.
Key Vocabulary
legevakt
LEH-geh-vakt
out-of-hours GP / urgent care clinic
ambulanse
am-boo-LAN-seh
ambulance
akuttmottak
ah-KOOT-mot-ak
emergency department (A&E)
nødnummer
NUHD-num-er
emergency number
fastlege
FAST-leh-geh
assigned GP
brann
brahn
fire
politi
po-LEE-tee
police
giftinformasjonen
yift-in-for-MAH-shon-en
Norwegian Poisons Information Centre
barnelegevakt
BAR-neh-leh-geh-vakt
children's out-of-hours clinic
psykisk helse
PSYK-isk HEL-seh
mental health
EHIC
EH-hic
European Health Insurance Card
triage
tree-AH-sheh
triage (priority assessment)
egenandel
EH-gen-an-del
patient co-payment
frikort
FREE-kort
exemption card (no co-pay after threshold)
skadelegevakt
SKAH-deh-leh-geh-vakt
injury / trauma out-of-hours clinic
Cultural Tips
Akuttmottak is for life-threatening emergencies only.
Norwegian hospital emergency departments (akuttmottak) are not walk-in clinics. Arriving with a sprained ankle, fever, or ear infection will result in a very long wait because triage will correctly deprioritise you. Use legevakt (116117) for urgent but non-life-threatening problems.
113 is the only number for a true emergency.
If someone is unconscious, not breathing, or there is uncontrolled bleeding, call 113 immediately. The operator speaks English and will stay on the line guiding you until the ambulance arrives. Do not drive to the hospital — call 113 first.
116117 has a mental health line.
The same number used for out-of-hours GP care (116117) also connects to mental health support outside regular hours. Kirkens SOS (22 40 00 40) and Mental Helse hjelpetelefonen (116 123) are additional 24/7 options.
EU citizens with EHIC pay the same as Norwegians.
If you are an EU/EEA citizen and carry your EHIC, you are entitled to necessary medical treatment at Norwegian rates. You will still pay the standard egenandel (co-payment, typically 160–300 kr per visit), but not the full uninsured rate.
Key Phrases
Jeg trenger ambulanse. Adressen er…
I need an ambulance. The address is…
Calling 113 in a life-threatening situation — always state your address first.
Jeg vil gjerne snakke med en lege. Det haster, men det er ikke livstruende.
I would like to speak to a doctor. It is urgent but not life-threatening.
Opening phrase when calling 116117.
Barnet mitt har svelget noe. Hva skal jeg gjøre?
My child has swallowed something. What should I do?
Calling Giftinformasjonen (22 59 13 00) for poisoning concerns.
Hvor er nærmeste legevakt?
Where is the nearest out-of-hours clinic?
Asking a neighbour or searching on helsenorge.no.
Jeg har EHIC-kortet mitt. Kan jeg bruke det her?
I have my EHIC card. Can I use it here?
Presenting your European Health Insurance Card at the legevakt reception.
Kan noen hjelpe meg på engelsk?
Can someone help me in English?
Requesting an English-speaking staff member at any medical facility.
Jeg trenger hjelp. Det er en brann.
I need help. There is a fire.
Calling 110 (fire service) and stating the emergency clearly.
Practical Steps
Save all five key numbers in your phone right now
113 (ambulanse — life-threatening), 112 (politi — police), 110 (brann — fire), 116117 (legevakt — urgent non-emergency out of hours), 22 59 13 00 (Giftinformasjonen — poisoning). Add them as named contacts. All operators can handle calls in English.
Identify your nearest legevakt before you get sick
Search "legevakt" on helsenorge.no or Google Maps to find the nearest clinic and note its opening hours. Most are open evenings and weekends. Major cities also have barnelegevakt (children's clinics) and skadelegevakt (injury clinics).
Use triage logic to choose the right level of care
Could this person die or suffer permanent harm in the next hour? If yes, call 113. Is it urgent but stable — high fever, suspected fracture, severe pain? Call 116117 or go to legevakt. Can it wait until tomorrow? Call your fastlege in the morning.
Understand what to bring to legevakt
Bring your Norwegian ID (or passport), your frikort if you have one, any prescription medication you currently take, and your EHIC card if you are EU/EEA. You do not need a referral to attend legevakt.
Know the mental health and specialist lines
For mental health crises, call 116117 and ask for the psychiatric emergency team, or call Mental Helse hjelpetelefonen on 116 123 (24/7, free). Kirkens SOS on 22 40 00 40 is another 24/7 crisis line. For poisoning, Giftinformasjonen (22 59 13 00) operates around the clock.
Follow up with your fastlege after an urgent visit
Legevakt doctors treat the immediate problem but do not take over your long-term care. Book a follow-up with your fastlege within a few days — especially for infections, injuries, or anything requiring ongoing medication.
Ready to practice?
Practise this scenario with a character in Samtale.