Joint emergency services

The emergency clinic at Central Ostrobothnian central hospital is called the Joint emergency services. The joint emergency services are a clinic for emergency patients both in primary health care and in specialised medical care. The joint emergency services are open 24/7.

Children and adolescents from 0 to 16 years of age are treated either in the joint emergency services or at the paediatric and youth emergency clinic depending on the assessment of the need of care. Patients who are referred to the hospital (children and adolescents who are severely ill) are always treated at the paediatric and youth emergency clinic.

The emergency clinic of primary health care has 1-2 general practise doctors and a nurse. In addition to this, the clinic has a nurse who is responsible for checking on the patients and nursing staff who assist in procedures and examinations.

In addition to doctors’ and nurses’ receptions, the joint emergency services provide guidance by phone 116 117 at all hours of the day i.e. 24/7. The phone guidance gives instructions on home care, assesses the urgency of the need of care and steers the patient to the correct place of care.

The emergency clinic of specialised medical care has two doctors. One of them treats illnesses within internal medicine, neurology as well as pulmonary diseases and the other treats surgical patients. The goal is to treat patients who have other diseases during office hours at the outpatient clinic of the speciality in question or through consultation with a specialist.

In addition to emergency services at the joint emergency services clinic, the hospital always has a paediatrician, gynaecologist and anaesthesiologist present. The emergency services also include stand by services when it comes to specialists within internal medicine and surgery, radiology and psychiatry. Laboratory services are also provided 24/7.

In a life-threatening emergency, one must act fast. If you suspect someone close to you is having a stroke or a cerebrovascular disorder or has severe shortness of breath, pain in the chest or one of the following symptoms, please call the emergency number 112 immediately. The Emergency Response Centre Agency will send an ambulance if one is needed.

Health problems that are life-threatening are e.g.:

• Unconsciousness
• The patient doesn’t breathe, the patient cannot be woken up
• Sudden symptoms of paralysis
• Severe shortness of breath/trouble breathing, the patient cannot talk and speaks individual words
• Severe pain in the chest as well as cold sweats and weakness
• A convulsion that doesn’t pass
• Bleeding caused by large wounds
• Injuries to the head and a lowered level of consciousness or unconsciousness
• High speed traffic accidents (a car collision at the speed of over 60 km/h or if a car hits a pedestrian, cyclist or moped rider)
• Falling from a high place (a height of more than two times one’s own height)

If the patient’s life is not under immediate threat, but the situation warrants urgent care, care in the emergency services is needed. Call the Medical Helpline 116 117 to get an assessment of the need of care and to be steered to the correct place of care. Health problems that warrant urgent care are e.g.:

• Pain in the chest or a constantly irregular heartbeat
• The general health status of a young person or a person of working age suddenly worsens
• Injuries caused by an accident, wounds that bleed profusely and fractures that are in the wrong position
• Facial injuries that have caused impaired vision
• A lowered level of consciousness
• A sudden confusion, unclear speech
• A sudden, severe headache, vision disorders
• A sudden shortness of breath, can speak sentences
• A sudden severe or worsening stomach age
• A severe earache that is not alleviated with pain medication

You can also fill out a symptom checker in the Omaolo service and get reliable information on whether your symptoms warrant (urgent) care by a professional or if home care is sufficient. More information about the Omaolo service in Soite.

In non-urgent matters, please primarily contact your own health care station. Such matters are e.g.:

• A head cold
• A stomach flu
• Emergency contraception (morning after pill)
• Renewing prescriptions, sick leave certificates, continuing a sick leave or assessing the work ability
• Need for a certificate or need for check-ups
• Asking about laboratory or x-ray results
• Prolonged aches or pains that are not caused by an injury
• Removing stitches
• Measuring blood pressure
• Intoxication without any other symptoms
• Assessment of spots, birthmarks and lumps
• Vaccinations (non-acute)
• A prolonged eczema