Førstelinjes

Førstelinjes is a Norwegian term meaning "first line" and is used to describe the initial layer of a system responsible for direct interaction with people, problems, or services. It is commonly applied in healthcare, public administration, and safety sectors.

In healthcare and social services, the term denotes the professionals and services that constitute the first point of contact for patients and service users—such as general practitioners, district nurses, and front-line care teams—who perform initial assessment, triage, basic treatment, and referral to more specialized care if needed.

In public administration and emergency services, førstelinjes refers to personnel and units that interact directly with the public and handle initial crisis response, information provision, and problem solving. In risk management or governance, it can describe the first line of defense—the operational controls and staff responsible for identifying and mitigating risks before they escalate; a concept that is often contrasted with second and third lines of defense (andre linje and tredje linje) within organizations.

Usage varies by sector, and the term may form part of compound terms such as førstelinjetjenester, første linje-ressurser, or førstelinjepersonell.

Overall, the word highlights the importance of the initial contact and frontline capacity in delivering services, managing crises, and maintaining systemic resilience.