The Itäkeskus, Laajasalo, Laakso, Töölö, Viiskulma, and Vuosaari health stations will be open from 13 January 2012 onwards on Wednesdays from 8 am to 6 pm.

The Health Station opening hours from 16 January 2012

When the Health Station is closed, patients in need of urgent care will be treated at an On-call Health Centre.

Advice and guidance is available around the clock, tel. (09) 10023

Health Services’ Medical Advice Line, tel. (09) 10023. Public health nurses and nurses provide medical advice to the residents of Helsinki around the clock. You can call the Medical Advice Line when you are looking for instructions on how to treat an illness or would like to have further information on the health services of the City of Helsinki.

As of the beginning of 2012, the City of Helsinki will adopt a new data system for financial management.

• If you receive a traditional paper invoice from the City of Helsinki Financial Management Services, you shall use the account and reference numbers that will change at the beginning of 2012.
  
• If you have a direct debit agreement or e-versions of Helsinki City invoices, the agreement shall have to be renewed in 2012. This can be done at your own bank after having received a paper invoice from the City at the beginning of 2012. In this paper invoice, you will receive a direct debit ID required for making a direct debit agreement. The e-invoice agreement can be renewed through your own eBanking facility. If the agreements are not renewed, the invoices will be issued in paper version in future.

Further information also at: www.hel.fi/laskut2012 (in Finnish)

Enquiries:

• Social Services Department and Health Centre customer invoices: tel. 09 310 25300
• Other invoices: tel. 09 310 25630

Seasonal influenza vaccinations will be administered at Helsinki health stations and maternity and child health clinics without appointments from 14 to 25 November 2011 during health station opening hours.

Free-of-charge influenza vaccination will be provided to:

• 3–64-year-olds belonging to risk groups due to illness
• children between 6 and 35 months
• persons over 65
• pregnant women
• health and social services personnel involved in patient and care work.

Irrespective of age, persons belonging to risk groups due to illness include persons with diabetes, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic and renal illnesses and patients whose immunity has deteriorated as a result of an illness or its treatment.

Helsinki residents who do not belong to the aforementioned groups can obtain the vaccination by prescription in exchange for a fee.

The seasonal influenza vaccine this autumn also protects against swine flu. Information on the vaccine is available on the website of the National Institute for Health and Welfare at www.thl.fi.

Further information about the vaccinations is available at your health station, at the web-site of the Health Centre at www.hel.fi/terveyskeskus, and by calling the Telephone Health Service (09) 10023 (24 h).
 

The HealthStand by the City of Helsinki Health Centre offers guidance and advice on how to promote good health and prevent illness.

The HealthStand (Terveyspysäkki) is a new health service that aims at promoting the self-care abilities of all Helsinki residents. Services are provided at the Hansasilta bridge at Itäkeskus Shopping Centre. The Health Centre is looking to offer all shoppers a chance to drop by the HealthStand, for purposes such as to have their blood pressure measured or ask for advice on how to maintain and promote their health. The idea is to locate the service where people gather every day.

The opening hours of the HealthStand are as follows:

Three public health nurses from Itäkeskus Health Centre work at the HealthStand. Health care students from the Metropolia and Laurea Universities of Applied Science are also training there under the guidance of the nurses. In future, students from other health care institutes may also have the chance to train at the HealthStand.

HealthStand on Facebook (e.g. information on upcoming events)

The concept of the HealthStand has been developed as part of the Healthy City District programme of the City of Helsinki since 2008. The HealthStand is a new health service designed to support the self-care of all Helsinki residents. The service is also being used to study and develop new forms of co-operation between the Health Centre, universities of applied sciences, shopkeepers at the shopping centre and health organisations and to develop services that support the health of residents.

Forum Virium Helsinki is responsible for producing digital marketing, business co-operation, service concepts and Stadi-TV programmes for the project.

The HealthStand is a trial service that will run until the end of 2011 and is co-ordinated by the Healthy City District programme. After the trial period, the health stations will assume responsibility for the service.

According to the new Health Care Act, which will enter into force on 1 May 2011, municipal residents can choose which local health station or maternity and child health clinic that they would like to visit. In addition to health station, they can choose the personal doctor-nurse team that is responsible for their care, and the health nurse in the maternity and child health clinic. You must make the choice for at least one year at a time.

How can I continue using my current health station?

If you wish to continue using your current health station, no action is required. Patients who have had a doctor’s appointment at the health station during the past twelve months and those who have previously switched their personal doctor will automatically continue as patients of their current personal doctor-nurse team if they do not want any changes.

What do I need to do if I would like to choose a personal doctor-nurse team in the current health station?

To choose a personal doctor-nurse team in your current health station, indicate your wish when contacting the health station next time. Your preferences will be taken into consideration, if possible. A doctor-nurse team is recommended for patients with long-term illnesses. You must make the choice for at least one year at a time. You can also use the services of the health station without choosing a personal doctor-nurse team. In that case, your appointment will be with the doctor or nurse who can offer you the most suitable time.

How do I switch health stations?

The next time you need to contact a health station, contact the new health station of your choice. You must make the choice for at least one year at a time.

How do I continue using my current maternity and child health clinic?

If you wish to continue using your current maternity and child health clinic, no action is required.

What do I need to do if I want to switch maternity and child health clinics or the health nurse in the current clinic?

Families will receive all maternity and child health clinic services from the same clinic. If you want to switch maternity and child health clinic or your current health nurse, please fill in the form: “Notification of choice of maternity and child health clinic/clinic health nurse.” You can also print the form by using the link below, collect it from the office of the nearest health station or request it from your current health nurse. Please return the form to the office of your nearest health station or to the address indicated in the form.

• Notification of choice of maternity and child health clinic/clinic health nurse (in Finnish): 
  doc (74 kb), pdf (44 kb)

Where can I find the contact details of health stations and maternity and child health clinics?

You can find the contact details of health stations and maternity and child clinics at www.hel.fi/hki/terke/en/Etusivu > Contact Information > Health stations. You can also contact the health services medical advice line for contact details, tel.  (09) 10023 (24 h).

From 1 March 2011 onwards, the customers of the eastern health stations in Herttoniemi, Itäkeskus, Kivikko, Kontula, Laajasalo and Vuosaari can choose the medical services of whichever station they prefer to use. They can also request the doctor-nurse pair that they prefer.

How to continue at your current health station?

If you wish to continue using your current health station, no action is required. To switch to another doctor-nurse pair, indicate your wish when contacting the health station next time.

Patients who have had a doctor’s appointment at the health stations during the past year and those who have previously changed their personal doctor will automatically continue as patients of their current doctor-nurse team if they do not want any changes.

How to switch health stations?

If you wish to switch health stations, contact your new health station of choice.

Choice to be extended in May

Starting from May, you may choose any of the 26 health stations in Helsinki as your own health station. The choice will also extend to maternity and child welfare clinics at this time. Starting from May you must choose your health station for at least one year at a time.

Health stations in the Eastern region

• Herttoniemi: Kettutie 8 M, 00800 Helsinki, tel. (09) 310 55230
• Itäkeskus: Itäkatu 7 K, 00930 Helsinki, tel. (09) 310 60360
• Kivikko: Kivikonkaari 21, 00940 Helsinki, tel. (09) 310 61520
• Kontula: Ostoskuja 3, 00940 Helsinki, tel. (09) 310 60410
• Laajasalo: Koulutanhua 2 A, 00840 Helsinki, tel. (09) 310 55400
• Vuosaari: Kahvikuja 3 A, 00980 Helsinki, tel. (09) 310 60850

The emergency health care services provided at Malmi Hospital will be moved to Maria Hospital between 15 and 17 September 2010. The Malmi Emergency Department will close on Wednesday 15 September at 10 pm and open at Maria Hospital on Friday 17 September at 8 am. Emergency Health Centre will be opened at Maria Hospital on 17 September at 4 pm.

During the moving period (15 September, 10 pm – 17 September, 8 am), patients of the hospital emergency services will be directed to Haartman Hospital. Patients of the health centre emergency services will be directed to the corresponding services provided at Haartman, Jorvi or Peijas Hospitals.

Maria Hospital serves the residents of eastern, south-eastern, north-eastern and northern Helsinki

Primarily, Maria Hospital serves the residents of eastern, south-eastern, north-eastern and northern Helsinki who are aged over 16. Adult patients from other parts of Helsinki will, as before, be directed to the emergency health care services provided at Haartman Hospital. Children (under 16 years of age) will be directed to the Children’s Hospital of the Hospital for Children and Adolescents.

The service areas of Haartman and Maria Hospital's Emergency Health Care Services by districts from 17 September 2010:

.doc (71 kb)
.pdf (59 kb)

Patients who come to the emergency services reception on their own or are brought there by an escort should enter through the Lapinlahdenkatu entrance (Lapinlahdenkatu 16, building 15 C, inner yard). Ambulance patients are received through the Mechelininkatu 1 entrance.

Emergency wards will also move to Maria Hospital

In addition to the emergency health care services at Malmi Hospital, other services will also be moved to Maria Hospital: emergency wards M1 to M4, internal medicine outpatient clinic as well as the HUS X-ray and HUSLAB services. The units that will continue in the Malmi Hospital area during the construction are the Malmi Health Station, inpatient wards A1 to A5, memory outpatient clinic, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services as well as the regional mobility aid centre, home hospital services and laboratory sample unit.

The Malmi emergency health care services will move back to Malmi in spring 2014 when the new building to house the services is complete.

Health stations open on weekdays

For the residents of Helsinki, the local health station is the main place to get treatment in case of acute illness on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm. The contact information of health stations can be found on their websites at www.hel.fi/terveysasemat. Health centre emergency services are available from 4 pm to 10 pm on weekdays and from 8 am to 10 pm at weekends and on public holidays. Hospitals Emergency Department are open 24 hours a day.

To receive health-related advice and information on Helsinki health care services around the clock, call +358 9 10023.

The patients of Kivikko, Kontula and Laajasalo Health Stations can choose their personal physician and nurse work pair

Starting from 1 September 2010, the patients of Kivikko, Kontula and Laajasalo Health Stations can choose, if they so wish, their personal physician and nurse work pair from their own health station.

The patients that have had a physician’s appointment at the health stations between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010, and patients who have previously changed their personal physician automatically, continue as patients of their current physician and nurse work pair, if they do not want to change their physician and nurse work pair.

The patient can make a wish of the treating physician and nurse work pair, when he or she first contacts his or her own health station. The physician and nurse work pair can be changed once a year, if so wished.

The option of choosing the physician and nurse work pair is first tested at the Kivikko, Kontula and Laajasalo Health Stations. Based on the experiences gained from this experiment, the option is intended to be expanded in 2011 to all health stations of Helsinki.

Kivikko Health Station
Kontula Health Station
Laajasalo Health Station

The reduced opening hours of health stations for the summer have ended, and health stations are now operating normally. Health stations are open mainly Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. In addition, almost all health stations are open until 6 pm one weeknight.

Contact information and opening hours of health stations

National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends discontinuation of Pandemrix vaccinations (Press release 25.8.2010)

Health Centre Annual Report 2009 is published.

The Health Centre’s task is to promote the health of Helsinki residents and to arrange, in cooperation with the hospital district, the necessary treatment of illnesses.

Health care services provided and arranged by the City of Helsinki were used by 73 per cent of Helsinki residents in 2009.

In 2009, the Health Centre provided a total of over 4 million outpatient care consultations, for example, at health stations, dental clinics and outpatient clinics as well as in home care and psychiatry. There were a total of around 870,000 bed ward days.

Health for Helsinki residents with new procedures

The Terve Helsinki (Healthy Helsinki) project (2009 – 2011) was launched to narrow health differences between Helsinki residents. The goal of the project is to prevent the social exclusion of young people and those of working age by developing new kinds of operating models to reach them, promote health and increase life management.

As a new procedure, virtual consultations by public health nurses were begun at the Habbo Hotel and IRC-Gallery, which are favoured by young people.

A new emergency duty hospital

After a break of three decades, a new hospital on emergency duty around the clock was completed in Helsinki. The Maria Hospital was able to move in the autumn to the new Haartman
Hospital, which was completed in the Meilahti Hospital District. In the new hospital, Helsinki
residents are served on the same premises by the health centre and hospital emergency
duty, bed wards supporting emergency duty, the internal medicine outpatient clinic
and oral health care emergency duty.

A busy fall

The swine influenza pandemic came ashore to Helsinki in October-November. Helsinki prepared for the coming pandemic by centralising the treatment of influenza patients starting in July to the influenza health station established in Laakso. The influenza proved to be milder than expected, and the peak phase of the pandemic lasted for a few weeks. The swine influenza vaccinations were able to be started at the health stations in October. All 26 Helsinki health stations, child health centres, school and student health care and the City’s occupational health centre participated in the swine influenza vaccinations. The vaccination arrangements worked well in Helsinki and long queues to vaccinations were not formed.

At the turn of the year, the Koskela, Kivelä and Myllypuro long-term hospitals were transferred from the Health Centre to the social agency’s elderly services. At the same time, the Suursuo Hospital was connected to the acute-care hospital.

Some of the dental clinics of the City of Helsinki are closed during the summer. The open dental clinics and the appointment booking service are available on 31 May-29 August, Mon-Fri, 8 am-3 pm.

The following dental clinics are closed for a part of the summer

Non-urgent appointment booking for dental care available on weekdays 8 am-3 pm

On-call dental services (pain, swelling and accidents)

On-call dental care services are provided on weekday evenings 4 pm-9 pm, at weekends and on public holidays 9 am-9 pm at the Haartman Hospital at Haartmaninkatu 4, building 12. Appointment booking is available on weekdays 2 pm-9 pm and at weekends and on public holidays 8 am-9 pm. Please contact the hospital in advance, tel. (09) 310 49999.

Health Services medical advice line, tel. (09) 10023, provides medical advice around the clock during the summer as well. Information on private dentists providing on-call services can be obtained from the number. Municipalities are not liable to compensate the costs of care provided by private dentists.

Guidance on health services around the clock

Health guidance, tel. (09) 10023 provides medical advice to the residents of Helsinki around the clock for the entire summer. Care instructions and information on the health services during the summertime can be obtained from this number.

Operations of the health stations to be centralised to eight health stations

The health stations as well as the Herttoniemi and Kivelä self-treatment product distribution points are open between 31 May and 27 August Mon-Fri, 8 am to 4 pm.

The operations of the health stations will be centralised between 28 June and 30 July to the eight health stations listed below. During this time, the health stations will mainly treat patients in need of urgent care and handle the necessary monitoring of long-term illnesses.

• Haaga Health Station, at Huovitie 5, will serve the customers of the Haaga, Kannelmäki and Malminkartano health stations.
• Itäkeskus Health Station, at Itäkatu 7 K, will serve the customers of the Itäkeskus, Kivikko and Kontula health stations.
• Kallio Health Station, at Eläintarhantie 3 D and 3 E will serve the customers of the Kallio, Koskela and Vallila health stations.
• Laakso Health Station, at Lääkärinkatu 8 P, will serve the patients of the Laakso, Munkkiniemi and Pitäjänmäki health stations.
• Malmi Health Station, at Talvelantie 4, will serve the customers of the Jakomäki, Malmi, Pihlajamäki, Puistola and Suutarila health stations.
• Oulunkylä Health Station, at Kylänvanhimmantie 25, will serve the customers of the Maunula, Oulunkylä and Paloheinä health stations.
• Viiskulma Health Station, at Pursimiehenkatu 4, will serve the customers of the Lauttasaari, Töölö and Viiskulma health stations.
• Vuosaari Health Station, at Kahvikuja 3 A, will serve the customers of the Herttoniemi, Laajasalo and Vuosaari health stations.

Operations of the maternity and child health clinics to be centralised to eleven clinics

The maternity and child welfare clinics are open between 31 May and 27 August Mon-Fri, 8 am to 4 pm. The operations of the clinics will be centralised between 28 June and 30 July to the eleven clinics listed below. During this period, the clinics handle the examinations of expecting mothers, infants 6 months old or younger as well as other necessary examinations.

• Haaga Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Huovitie 5, will serve the customers of the Haaga and Pitäjänmäki clinics.
• Herttoniemi Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Kettutie 8, will serve the customers of the Herttoniemi and Laajasalo clinics.
• Itäkeskus Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Itäkatu 7 K, will serve the customers of the Itäkeskus and Kontula clinics.
• Kallio Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Toinen linja 4 C, will serve the customers of the Kallio, Koskela and Vallila clinics.
• Laakso Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Lääkärinkatu 8 P, will serve the customers of the Laakso and Munkkiniemi clinics.
• Malmi Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Talvelantie 4, will serve the customers of the Malmi and Pihlajamäki clinics.
• Malminkartano Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Luutnantintie 12-14, will serve the customers of the Kannelmäki and Malminkartano clinics.
• Oulunkylä Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Kylänvanhimmantie 25, will serve the customers of the Maunula, Oulunkylä and Paloheinä clinics.
• Suutarila Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Suutarilantie 32, will serve the customers of the Jakomäki, Puistola and Suutarila clinics.
• Viiskulma Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Pursimiehenkatu 4, will serve the customers of the Lauttasaari, Töölö and Viiskulma clinics.
• Vuosaari Maternity and Child Health Clinic, at Kahvikuja 3 A, will serve the customers of the Kivikko and Vuosaari clinics.

Health Centre Emergency clinics are open during the summer

When the health stations are closed in the evenings, at weekends and on holidays, patients in need of urgent care will be treated at the Haartman, Jorvi, Malmi and Peijas hospitals and at the Hospital for Children and Adolescents.

The Haartman and Maria Emergency Clinics treat patients over 16 of age who are in need of urgent care due to a severe illness or other medical emergency.

A nurse will interview You in conjunction with the registration and assess the need for care as well as the urgency of the need. In the assessment, categorisation into five different groups according to the urgency of care is used. Based on the assessment, the nurse will refer You to either the hospital physician, health centre physician or nurse on emergency duty, or to contact Your own Health Station during office hours.

Patients directed to the Emergency Clinics are examined in order of urgency according to the need for care, not in order of arrival.

A nurse at the Emergency Clinic will monitor your condition and perform the required initial examinations. If you undergo laboratory and/or X-ray examinations in conjunction with the Emergency Clinic visit, your treatment time may become longer.

If your condition or symptoms worsen after your visit to the Emergency Clinic, please contact the Telephone Health Service, tel. +358 9 10 023 or your own Health Station. It is a good idea to call the Telephone Health Service whenever you need guidance on treating illnesses or information about the right treatment place. The Telephone Health Service serves you 24 hours a day.

You can find reliable information on illnesses and their treatment also on the Internet, for example at www.terveyskirjasto.fi and www.kaypahoito.fi.

On weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the local Health Station

For the residents of Helsinki, the local Health Station is the primary place to get treatment in case of acute illness and injuries on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Some of the Health Stations are open longer on certain days. Check the opening hours of your own Health Station from the attached alphabetical list.

At other times, patients with an urgent need for care will be treated at the Emergency Clinic

At other times, patients with urgent medical emergencies and severe illnesses requiring immediate care are treated at the Haartman and Malmi Hospitals’ Emergency Clinics and the Emergency Clinic of the Children’s Hospital. The Emergency Clinics of the Jorvi and Peijas Hospitals also treat Helsinki residents. Every patient’s need for care and its urgency is assessed at the Emergency Clinic. Based on the assessment, some of the patients may be directed to seek care at their own Health Station during office hours. You can assess the need for care and its urgency also with the help of the staff of the Telephone Health Service, tel. +358 9 10023 around the clock.

Telephone health service 24 hours a day

The public health nurses and nurses at the Telephone Health Service, tel. +358 9 10023 give guidance to Helsinki residents around the clock. Call the Telephone Health Service when you need guidance on treating illnesses or information about health care services and locations in Helsinki. You can get information about health care locations also from the City of Helsinki’s Intranet web pages at www.hel.fi/terveyskeskus.

You can find reliable information on illnesses and their treatment also on the Internet, for example, at www.terveyskirjasto.fi and www.kaypahoito.fi.

Emergency Health Centre services available across municipal borders in the Helsinki metropolitan area from 1 April 2010

Starting from 1 April 2010, residents in the Helsinki metropolitan area requiring urgent medical examination or treatment outside office hours may also seek medical services at the Emergency Health Centres in the neighbouring cities.

The agreement made between Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa and the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa covers Emergency Health Centre services outside regular office hours, or during weekdays between 4 pm and 8 am and 24 hours/day during weekends and public holidays. The shared emergency care locations are the Haartman, Jorvi, Malmi and Peijas Emergency Health Centres and emergency services at the Jorvi Hospital and the Children’s Hospital for children under the age of 16.

The shared emergency services are intended for patients that independently seek emergency medical care. Patients requiring hospital treatment are directed to the services in their own city. The emergency care fee is the same in all units.

Using emergency health care services

During weekdays between 8 am and 4 pm patients with sudden illnesses or accidents should primarily contact their local Health Centre. During other times, urgent medical care is provided by any of the Emergency Health Centres listed above. Patients may come directly to the Emergency Health Centre or contact the Health Centre by telephone and ask for instrcutions.

The emergency care assesses the urgency of the patient’s condition and patients are treated in order of urgency – not in order of check-in. Seriously ill patients are treated immediately. Obtaining sick leave certificates and seeking help for the common cold, back pains or other non-urgent medical conditions should be conducted at local Health Centres during daytime hours.

Treatment instructions are available 24 hours/day at the Health Information Services at (09) 10023 or at www.terveyskirjasto.fi.

Swine flu vaccinations of all Helsinki residents continue at health stations until the end of March. Health stations vaccinate Helsinki residents who has not yet been vaccinated without pre-booked appointments on 1.3. – 31.3.2010 from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 11.00am.

Health stations and maternity and child welfare clinics will vaccinate pregnant women, those who belong to risk groups, and 6 month-old babies.

Persons who belong to the risk group

• require regular medication for a heart or a lung disease
• have a metabolism related illness (e.g. diabetes that requires medication)
• have a chronic liver or kidney disease
• have an illness or are treated for an illness that weakens the immune system
• have a chronic neurological illness or muscle nerve illness
• are clinically obese (BMI > 40).

Vaccination recommendation

The vaccination is free of charge and voluntary. The vaccination is recommended for all.

Additional information about vaccinations

• The web pages of Helsinki Health Centre
• the telephone health service, tel. (09) 10023 (24 h)

Getting a vaccination against swine influenza is still recommended. Vaccinations can contribute to preventing a second wave of the influenza, which is according to experts likely to occur next autumn at the latest.  During this spring taking the vaccination is free of charge for all those resident in Finland.

Until now approximately 2.2 million Finns have been vaccinated.  More information about the dates and places of vaccination is available at municipal websites, in local papers and health centres.  People in employment are advised to ask their employer if they can get the vaccination through their occupational health service.

The telephone helpline Ask about influenza will be closed

The helpline is open for the last day on Friday 19 February.  In recent weeks only about 20 to 30 calls per week have been received.

The callers have mostly asked about vaccinations, the safety of the vaccine and the places of vaccination. Altogether 9501 phone calls have been answered in Finnish and 278 in Swedish.  Most calls were received in November, about 1500 per week.  The telephone helpline has served citizens since July 2009.

In the future information about swine influenza and vaccinations is available from the local health centres and the website of the National Institute for Health and Welfare.

Further information

• The press release of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
• Swine flu vaccinations at Helsinki’s health stations and maternity and child welfare clinics

The City of Helsinki develops its services, increases e-services and intensifies the use of premises

The City of Helsinki gathers opinions and new ideas on developing services, the joint use of premises and on e-services.

Helsinki is building new districts and compactifies old ones. New services and premises are needed for the new and growing city districts. At the same time, the needs for services change in the old city districts, for the population decreases and the population structure changes. The City seeks balance in services between new and old city districts. However, tax revenue is decreasing and the demand for services grows.

The City of Helsinki asks for its residents’ opinions on its service network, i.e. health care, social, day-care, school, cultural and sports services as well as on town planning. The residents’ views on developing e-services are also needed. The background material for the dialogue is in Finnish and partly also in Swedish. The dialogue takes place on 15.2. – 5.3.2010.

If you wish to give feedback on the services provided by the City of Helsinki, you can use the feedback form on the City’s pages at www.hel.fi/english

Feedback can also be given on the ’’Please give your opinion on developing the service networks’’ pages.

The services of health stations, maternity and child welfare clinics and school and student health care have been restricted since the middle of November due to swine flu vaccinations. Health stations, maternity and child welfare clinics and school and student health care will slowly return to normal operations, and non-urgent appointments can now be booked as normal. The swine flu vaccinations of the whole nation will continue, and they will have an impact on the availability of appointment times throughout spring.

Health checks performed by maternity and child welfare clinics and school and student health care that have been on hold due to swine flu vaccinations will commence again starting from the health checks of younger children. Family training starts on 1st February 2010.

Swine flu vaccinations continue at health stations

As of Monday 18th January, health stations will be open as normal. Health stations are open mainly on Mon – Fri from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly all health stations are open one day a week until 6 p.m. Health stations vaccinate Helsinki residents without pre-booked appointments during opening hours.

Health station opening hours and vaccination schedule

Dates and locations of vaccinations

Swine flu vaccinations continue at health stations until the end of March

Swine flu vaccinations of all Helsinki residents continue at health stations until the end of March. Health stations vaccinate Helsinki residents who has not yet been vaccinated without pre-booked appointments on 1.3. – 31.3.2010 from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 11.00am.

Health stations and maternity and child welfare clinics will vaccinate pregnant women, those who belong to risk groups, and 6 month-old babies even after the end of March, as long as there is vaccine available.

Persons who belong to the risk group

• require regular medication for a heart or a lung disease
• have a metabolism related illness (e.g. diabetes that requires medication)
• have a chronic liver or kidney disease
• have an illness or are treated for an illness that weakens the immune system
• have a chronic neurological illness or muscle nerve illness
• are clinically obese (BMI > 40).

Vaccination recommendation

The vaccination is free of charge and voluntary. The vaccination is recommended for all.

The vaccinations cause changes to the normal activities of health stations and maternity and child welfare clinics.

Additional information about vaccinations: 

• the telephone health service, tel. (09) 10023 (24 h)
• health stations and maternity and child welfare clinics
• www.thl.fi/en_US/web/en/ah1n1v (The National Institute for Health and Welfare)

The symptoms of A(H1N1) influenza are sudden fever (38 Celsius or over, children under 3 years of age over 38.5 Celsius) together with respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, cough, or runny or stuffy nose.

The risk groups are

• pregnant women (during the whole pregnancy and for 4 weeks after the delivery)
• those suffering from one of the following long-term illnesses:
  • a heart or lung disease or diabetes needing regular medication (not mild hypertension)
  • chronic insufficiency of the liver or kidney
  • a disease that weakens the immune system, e.g., leukaemia, lymphoma, HIV infection
  • a disease that is treated with medication that weakens the immune system (transplantation, cytostatic treatment, TNF alpha blocker, corticosteroid >15 mg/day for 2 to 4 weeks, other treatment that weakens the immune response)
  • a chronic neurological disorder or neuromuscular disorder
  • severe obesity.

The major part of influenza patients recover within one week by resting at home without a doctor’s treatment. Where necessary, the symptoms can be alleviated with pain killers. The home care instructions for the influenza can be found on the website of The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) at www.thl.fi. Influenza patients not belonging to any risk group are requested to contact their own health stations during their opening hours to have their need for treatment estimated. In evenings and week-ends, also the non-risk group patients can contact Laakso influenza health station.

During the epidemic, influenza patients and others in urgent need of treatment have priority at the health stations. This also applies to long-term illnesses necessitating treatment. New appointments are not given for the time being.

The opening hours and addresses of the health stations

The national influenza phone is at your service from Mon to Fri from 10 to 18, tel. 0800 02277 (Finnish), tel. 0800 02278 (Swedish). This phone service will not provide any instructions concerning the caller's own health.

In urgent matters, please call emergency number 112.

More information

Influenza A(H1N1)v virus (swine flu)
[ National Institute for Health and Welfare ]

Home care instructions for influenza A(H1N1)v and when to seek medical care
[ National Institute for Health and Welfare ]

A(H1N1)v and instructions for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
[ National Institute for Health and Welfare ]

Instructions for travellers
[ National Institute for Health and Welfare ]

"Ask about the flu" phone line (the Red Cross and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health), Mon-Fri 10-18, tel. 0800 02277 (in Finnish), 0800 02278 (in Swedish). This does not provide advice on a caller's state of health.

Frequently asked questions on influenza A(H1N1)v virus (.pdf, 72 kb)
[ European Center for Disease Prevention and Control ]

Information in other languages on the pages of Infopankki

All health stations in Helsinki treat flu patients during their opening hours. The health stations are prepared to treat and advise flu patients as well as to extensive swine flu vaccinations by cancelling non-urgent appointments.

Laakso influenza health station treats people belonging to risk groups

Laakso influenza health station treats influenza patients that belong to risk groups, open Mon-Sun from 8.00 to 20.00 hrs. Risk group people are advised to contact Laakso health station immediately by phone when contracting first symptoms of influenza. The phone number is 09 310 47936.

People not in risk groups to contact their own health station

The major part of influenza patients recover within one week by resting at home without a doctor’s treatment. Where necessary, the symptoms can be alleviated with pain killers.

Influenza patients not belonging to any risk group are requested to contact their own health stations during their opening hours to have their need for treatment estimated. In evenings and week-ends, also the non-risk group patients can contact Laakso influenza health station.

During the epidemic, influenza patients and others in urgent need of treatment have priority at the health stations. This also applies to long-term illnesses necessitating treatment. New appointments are not given for the time being. The opening hours and addresses of the health stations are available at www.hel.fi/terveysasemat.

Child welfare clinics vaccinate children from 3 to 6 years of age

The child welfare clinics in Helsinki have started the swine flu vaccinations to healthy children from 6 to 35 months of age on 16.11.2009. The clinics start to vaccinate also healthy children from 3 to 6 years of age. The appointments for physical examinations of babies over 6 months of age are cancelled for the time being. The same applies to family guidance, too. During the epidemic, the clinics will carry out the examinations of pregnant and parturient women, babies of 6 months or less as well as the necessary examinations of children over 6 months.

Vaccinations for schoolchildren and students under preparation

The vaccinations of schoolchildren are started immediately when the Health Centre has received an adequate amount of the vaccine. The students in comprehensive schools, secondary schools and vocational institutes will be vaccinated at their schools. The Health Centre will give more detailed information of the vaccinations and the time schedule.
More information about the vaccinations:
Helsinki Health Centre pages
National Institute for Health and Welfare pages

Patients over 16 years of age with severe illness and in need of urgent medical care are treated at Haartman Hospital’s Emergency Health Centre. Patients are examined in the order of urgency based on the need for treatment, not in the order they arrive. On admission to the clinic the emergency nurse will carry out an interview to evaluate the need and urgency for treatment. The nurse will then refer you to the reception of a hospital doctor, a health centre doctor or an emergency nurse.

A classification system is used by the Emergency Clinic in order to assess the urgency of patients’ need for treatment. The urgency for treatment is described with numbers 1 - 5.

1: Life-threatening condition

2: High-risk condition

3: Patient is examined as soon as possible depending on the queue at the Emergency Clinic

4: Patient is examined at the Emergency Clinic depending on the queue

5: Condition does not require doctor’s treatment at the Emergency Clinic. Nurse will refer you to the care/service needed.

Nurse will monitor your condition and perform the necessary pre-examinations. If laboratory or x-ray examinations are required during your visit, your treatment may take longer.

If your condition or symptoms worsen after your visit, please call the telephone health service (09) 10 023, or your local Health Station. Call the telephone health service whenever you need medical instructions or information about where to get treatment. The telephone health service is open 24 hours a day.

Reliable information on illnesses and their treatment can also be found on the Internet, for example at www.terveyskirjasto.fi and www.kaypahoito.fi.

Influenza spreads easily from person to person through droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by people already infected with the virus. It’s also transmitted through hands, which can carry the infection.

Simple steps for reducing the risk for infection:

If not ill

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use alcoholbased hand sanitizers or disposable towels.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Your hands may have picked up flu viruses from surfaces such as door handles.
• Avoid close contact with people who appear to be ill.

 If ill

• When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a disposable tissue. Bin the used tissues immediately.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• After you sneeze and blow your nose, wash your hands with soap and water or use alcoholbased hand sanitizers or disposable towels.
• Stay at home. Do not go to work or school or run errands. This helps prevent the spread of the virus.

Monitor your health and, if necessary, telephone your doctor, especially if you know you’ve been in close contact with people infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Frequently asked questions on influenza A(H1N1)v virus (.pdf)
[ European Center for Disease Prevention and Control ]

Non-urgent dental care

An appointment for non-urgent dental care is reserved by phone from the centralised appointment reservation using the phone number for your area of residence. The centralised appointment reservation is open as follows:

• Mon-Thur 8am-4.30pm, Fri 8am-3pm
• Summertime Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

It is recommended that non-urgent appointment bookings are made after 10 a.m.

CENTRALISED APPOINTMENT RESERVATION

• North-east area: (09) 31053438
• East and south-east area: (09) 31061450
• South and west area: (09) 31051400
• Central and north area: (09) 31053500

Children and the physically handicapped are treated in the dental clinic in their area of residence. Adults are directed to a clinic that has a suitable appointment time.

Dental clinics

Urgent dental care (ache or swelling)

Urgent care on weekdays

Children are cared for in the dental clinic in their area of residence, where the appointment is made through the centralised appointment reservation.

Adult urgent care is mainly given in Ruskeasuo dental clinic, Mannerheimintie 172, and in Haartman Hospital Dental Clinic, Haartmaninkatu 4, building 12, where the appointment is made through the centralised appointment reservation:

• North-east area: (09) 3104 8855
• East and south-east area: (09) 3104 8856
• Central and north area: (09) 3104 8857
• South and west area: (09) 3104 8858

Urgent care during nights, weekends and holidays

Adult and children’s urgent care during weekday nights is given at the the Haartman Hospital Emergency Dental Clinic, Haartmaninkatu 4, building 12. Phone in advance to (09) 3104 9999 (2pm - 9pm).

Adult and children’s urgent care during weekends and holidays is given at the the Haartman Hospital Emergency Dental Clinic, Haartmaninkatu 4, building 12. Phone in advance to (09) 3104 9999 (8am - 9pm).

Numbers for private dentists on duty are available by phone at (09) 10023 (City of Helsinki is not responsible for the fees of the private dentists).

The dental clinics refer a part of adult clients to private dental clinics (who have a contract with the city) and the dentists’ fees are the same as the fees of the municipal dental care. When making an appointment it is important to tell the reason for dental care you wish to have.

Refunds for the costs of dental treatments performed by a dentist in private practice

All the clients are entitled to reimbursement for dental care performed by a dentist in private practice. Part of costs of examinations and treatments (about 40 %) is reimbursed by the National Health Insurance, calculated on the basis of a schedule of fixed charges (NHI). Refunds are not provided for orthopaedic or prosthodontic procedures or services of a dental technician.

The fees of the dental health care in Helsinki

The dental services in municipal dental clinics are free of charge for the age groups of 0 - 17 years old as well as war veterans and people working in minefields can always get municipal dental care services, if necessary. The costs of dental examination and treatment for others are defined on the basis of the decision of the Health Committee. The fees depend on the examination and treatments performed and vary according to each procedure. Every dental clinic is using a modern data communications system and clients can receive a specified plan and an estimate for total costs of treatment.