In a life-threatening situation, always call 112. Emergencies are chest pain, seizuring, acute shortness of breath, unconsciousness, stroke symptoms, a car crash or fire. On this page, you can find information on how to react in a moment of urgency.
Health care emergency services
Before going to the emergency clinic, call the Medical Helpline 116 117
The Medical Helpline conducts an initial assessment of the need for care over the phone and provides instructions if necessary. The number is free of charge and can be called 24/7.
Health care professionals will guide you to the appropriate location for treatment and give advise on how urgently you need to seek treatment. If your condition can be treated with self-care, you will be provided with care instructions.
Urgent care in health care centres
If you have fallen ill suddenly or you need urgent care, seek medical attention at your health care centre. You are probably in need of urgent care, if your condition has significantly worsened or you suffer from sudden pain. Your health care center will help you during office hours.
Urgent care outside the opening hours of health care centres
In the evening, at night and on weekends emergency clinics are open in Oulu (OYS), Oulainen (Oulaskangas), Raahe and Kuusamo. Before going to the emergency clinic, please call the Medical Helpline number 116 117. A medical professional will assess your need for emergency care by telephone and provide you with instructions and advice. In a life-threatening situation, call the general emergency number 112.
When should I contact the emergency clinic?
The emergency clinics treat injuries and illnesses that cannot wait until the next day. Urgent situations that require emergency care are for example
- excessively bleeding wound or vomiting of blood
- bone fractures
- chest pain
- sudden confusion
- shortness of breath
- sudden severe headache or abdominal pain
- psychosis, self-destructiveness or other mental health problems requiring urgent treatment.
At the emergency clinic, we always assess the need and urgency for treatment first. Based on this, you will be referred to a nurse or doctor. Please note, that patients are treated in the order of urgency, not in the order of arrival.
Read more about urgent services