The Emergency Department is open around the clock treating patients who require immediate care and whose symptoms or injuries would deteriorate without intervention.
When do you go to Emergency Department?
Emergency – Call 112
When a patient has a life-threatening condition, act immediately and call emergency number 112 without delay for help and instructions.
Emergency situation – Go immediately to Emergency Department
If you have any of the symptoms listed below, you require immediate medical attention and have to go to Oulu University Hospital Emergency Department.
Conditions requiring urgent care – Always call first 116 117
Oulu University Hospital Emergency Department is open 24/7. Call the health guidance helpline 116 117 always before leaving for the Emergency Department. Your call is answered by a registered nurse who will assess your injury or symptoms and determine whether your condition requires emergency care at the Emergency Department and he or she is able to give you also the necessary guidance and instructions.
Emergency help chat - authenticate to continue to the service
Doctors in your local health care centre or occupational health care treat chronic conditions and sudden illnesses as well as mild injuries during office hours.
Before coming to Emergency Department
The Emergency department provides treatment for patients requiring basic or special health care. Before leaving for the Emergency Department, call our round-the-clock health guidance helpline 116 117. Your call is answered by a registered nurse who will give you advice and instructions regarding your condition and assess the need for a nurse or doctor's consultation.
Patients are examined in order of urgency, not arrival. A senior nurse will assess the need and urgency of your care.
Your health issue may not require emergency treatment. In that case you get appropriate health care guidance, based on your symptoms, and you are advised to contact your health care centre the following weekday. If, however, your condition deteriorates, call the health guidance helpline 116 117.
Bring the following documents with you
Patients are signed in by their personal ID code and therefore you need a proof of identity (for instance your KELA card, your child's health clinic (neuvola) card) with you.
If you have been treated due to your current condition in another health care facility, please take all information regarding the consultations with you.
Bring also an updated and valid list of all the medication you use (or all prescriptions of the medicines you are currently taking).
In case of emergency
Call the emergency number 112, where emergency response centre staff instructs you and, if necessary, calls an ambulance or other help.
Need for transport is assessed depending on the patient's ability to get to the hospital by other means, e.g. by taxi, paratransit or the patient's own means of transport.
If the patient shows no sign of impairment of conscious level, has no convulsions, does not bleed heavily or has no breathing difficulties, ambulance transfer is not normally necessary.
Ambulance paramedics examine you on site and assess the need for care and transit. If the illness or injury does not require care during the transit, the patients is instructed to use another method of transport. Sometimes the symptoms or injury can be treated at the patient's home with no need for further care.
Are you in need of urgent care
Accident and Emergency Department treats patients requiring urgent or emergency care
The Accident and Emergency Department treats only conditions and injuries which without care within 24 hours or over the weekend would cause the patient a considerable health risk. However, a lot of patients with less serious conditions come to the Accident and Emergency Department.
The Accident and Emergency Department provides first aid for injuries and care for conditions requiring immediate medical intervention. Such conditions include for instance the following:
- Severe chest pain
- New symptoms of paralysis
- Severe bleeding (e.g. blood in vomit, large bleeding wound)
- Newborn with a temperature
- Larger injuries and fractures
- Impairment of conscious level, sudden confusion and disorientation
- Sudden severe headache
- Breathing difficulties
- Sudden or progressive stomach ache
- Severe earache not relieved by a painkiller.
Accident and Emergency Department attendance is not normally required on the following conditions:
- Flu, cough, runny nose
- Ear check-ups
- Old injury check-ups
- Pimple, mole or lump check-ups
- Rash
- Long-term dizziness or headache
- Musculoskeletal pains and aches with no new injuries
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea, if otherwise in good condition
- Tiredness
- Repeat prescriptions
- Chronic conditions with no sudden impairment of symptoms
- Continuation of sick leave, assessment of work ability, all statements
- Not getting an appointment at the local healthcare centre for a condition that does not require first aid type of an assessment