lægekontakt

Lægekontakt is the Danish term for the act of contacting a physician within the healthcare system. It covers seeking medical advice, undergoing a consultation, receiving a diagnosis, obtaining treatment, and arranging follow-up or coordinated care with different health professionals. Lægekontakt can involve a general practitioner, a hospital clinic, or other clinicians.

In Denmark, the general practitioner (GP) is typically the first point of contact for most health concerns and acts as gatekeeper to specialist care. Patients register with a GP practice, which becomes their primary contact for advice, prescriptions, and referrals. Appointments can usually be booked by telephone or online, and many practices offer secure messaging through the national health portal sundhed.dk. For non-urgent issues, patients may also request a callback or send questions via the portal. In-person visits and home visits may be arranged depending on need and availability.

For emergencies, dial 112 immediately. Outside normal hours, many regions provide an after-hours service known as lægevagt or a regional medical advice line (such as 1813). Digital options are increasingly available, including online consultations and secure messaging with a GP or hospital via sundhed.dk.

When preparing for a lægekontakt, have your CPR number and contact details, a description of your current symptoms, a list of medications and known allergies, and relevant medical history ready. Bring medications or a current list, and write down questions you want answered. Medical information is protected by confidentiality and data protection rules; you may access your records and share them with authorized providers as needed.