Q & A

I would like to book an appointment at Sophiahemmet. How do I do this?

To book an appointment for an examination or medical treatment, you should contact an applicable healthcare provider directly or call our main switchboard at 08-406 20 00 to be routed to a healthcare provider. If you are uncertain which type of medical care you need or which healthcare provider is appropriate, contact 1177 Healthcare Guide.

Can I receive medical advice on the telephone?

Our healthcare providers are not permitted to give initial medical advice over the telephone or via e-mail. You are welcome to schedule an appointment with one of our healthcare providers listed here. You may also call 1177 Healthcare Guide twenty-four hours a day. Nurses at 1177 Healthcare Guide will assess your medical needs, give you advice and guide you to the most appropriate healthcare provider, if necessary.

What is a referral?

A referral is a written request for the transfer of responsibility for the care of a patient for assessment and/or treatment. The referral also describes symptoms and previous illnesses.

When do I need a referral?

In general, a referral is not required for a general practitioner, emergency room or certain specialists. A referral from your doctor is always required for medical tests or x-rays. A referral from a general practitioner can simplify the process for obtaining an appointment with a specialist at Sophiahemmet, although in many cases it is also acceptable to call directly and make an appointment without a referral. Contact the applicable healthcare provider for guidance.

What is private medical care?

Health and medical treatment in Stockholm can be provided by the county council as well as by private companies that have an agreement with the county council or are included in Stockholm’s choice of care system. Patient fees are the same regardless if you use a county council clinic or a private health center or clinic included in Stockholm’s choice-of-care-system. There are also private healthcare providers that do not have an agreement with the county council. You are responsible for paying whatever fee is charged by these private healthcare providers. It is advised to ask about any costs in advance if you are unsure whether a healthcare provider at Sophiahemmet has an agreement with the county council.

Many of the healthcare providers at Sophiahemmet have an agreement with the county council or are included in Stockholm’s choice-of-care-system. Patient fees are the same as for medical wards run by the county council. The free medical care card is a valid form of payment.

Patient fees vary depending on the type of appointment, e.g., a general practitioner or a specialist. Additional information about fees is available at 1177 Healthcare Guide.

Please note that not all of the medical wards or specialists at Sophiahemmet have an agreement with Stockholm county council and some only accept patients who pay privately or have private insurance. Read more under the websites for each healthcare provider.

Private medical care insurance

Many companies provide their employees private medical insurance that may be accepted for medical care at Sophiahemmet. You can also take out medical insurance yourself through your insurance company.

Contact your insurance company to determine if your insurance is valid at Sophiahemmet. If you would like to make an appointment with one of our healthcare providers, please contact your insurance company’s healthcare planning unit. You may also contact a healthcare provider at Sophiahemmet to determine which insurance company agreements are included. The insurance company agreements are different for each healthcare provider.

Försäkringsmottagningen is mainly a primary care unit at Sophiahemmet that accepts patients with private insurance from Skandia and Länsförsäkringar, among others. However, you should always contact the insurance company’s healthcare planning unit when you need medical care. Only the insurance company’s healthcare planning unit is permitted to make appointments with physicians at Sophiahemmet.

Medical care paid by the patient

Many of our healthcare providers can offer patients the option of paying privately for services that is not covered by the current reimbursement system. Contact the specific healthcare provider to determine what is applicable for your specific situation.

Be sure to find out what expenses you will be responsible for paying if you decide to have an operation at Sophiahemmet.

I am a former Swedish citizen living abroad – am I eligible for medical care at Sophiahemmet?

Many of our healthcare providers can offer patients the option of paying privately for services that are not covered by the current reimbursement system. Contact the specific healthcare provider to determine what is applicable for your specific situation. Be sure to find out what expenses you will be responsible for paying if you decide to have an operation at Sophiahemmet. If you have private medical insurance in your country of residence, contact your insurance company and ask if your insurance will cover medical care in Sweden as well as with the healthcare provider you have selected for your care.

I have a relative who lives abroad and is a foreign citizen – are my relatives eligible for medical care at Sophiahemmet?
Many of our healthcare providers can offer patients the option of paying privately for services that are not covered by the current reimbursement system. Contact the specific healthcare provider to determine what is applicable for your specific situation. Be sure to find out what expenses you will be responsible for paying if your relative decides to have an operation at Sophiahemmet. If your relative has private medical insurance in his/her country of residence, contact the insurance company and ask if the insurance will cover medical care in Sweden as well as with the healthcare provider selected for your relative’s care.

What is the easiest way to get to Sophiahemmet?

There are limited parking facilities at Sophiahemmet and we recommend that our patients get a ride, take a taxi or use public transportation. If you are unable to arrange transportation and use your own car, please arrive with sufficient time to spare as there are limited parking spaces around Sophiahemmet. You may need to wait or search for some time before locating an available space. There are also parking spaces on Valhallavägens allé, just a few minutes’ walk from the hospital. Remember that the hospital grounds cover a large area and it is a good idea to know which building you will be visiting before you arrive. The building information is provided in your appointment invitation or by your healthcare provider directly. If arriving by taxi, provide the letter of the building to the taxi driver. Welcome to Sophiahemmet!

Where is the reception located at Sophiahemmet?

Sophiahemmet has over 50 different healthcare providers and each of these have their own reception/clinics for their patients. Make note of the name of your healthcare provider and the building in which they are located to easily find the applicable reception/clinic. Our website provides all the information you will need to locate your healthcare provider before your appointment at Sophiahemmet.

My relative and I have special needs – is it possible to have an accompanying person assist us, for example, at Sophiahemmet?

If you require an accompanying person to assist you or have other questions regarding special needs, please contact our Service Center in advance of your visit at 08-406 25 25. During business hours we also have volunteers located at the entrance to Building A who can help you once you arrive.

Is there a restaurant or café at Sophiahemmet?

Sabis operates a restaurant in Building C. Lunch is served Monday-Friday between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. The restaurant is open between 9:00 am and 3 pm. Sandwiches, coffee and lighter meals are available outside of these hours.

Cafés are available in Building A and Building O. Lighter meals, pastries and beverages are served. The cafés also sell newspapers, candy, etc. and are open during regular business hours, Monday-Friday.

Food is available in the Östra train station area outside of these hours. Please observe that it is not permitted to bring food to all of the facilities within the hospital. We ask that you show consideration for other patients and instead visit our cafés, restaurant or find out what is allowed at the clinic you will be visiting.

Is there Wi-fi at Sophiahemmet?

Wi-fi is accessible throughout a majority of the hospital grounds. Select “The Cloud” in the list of available networks. The Cloud wi-fi connection is provided free-of-charge and does not require a log-in. As with any public network, you are individually responsible for what you do when you are connected to a public network.

How do I cancel an appointment? What will happen if I forget to cancel an appointment?

We would appreciate knowing about any appointment cancellations in as far advance as possible. Healthcare providers that have an agreement with the Stockholm county council require notification to reschedule or cancel a minimum of 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. You will be responsible for payment of the appointment fee and an administration fee if you are not present for the appointment or cancel after the deadline. This also applies to patients under 20 years of age. The free medical care card does not apply to no-shows. Contact your healthcare provider for cancellation rules and other questions.

What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient care?

Medical care can be separated into two parts: outpatient care and inpatient care. With outpatient care you will be sent home after an assessment of your condition, while with inpatient care you will be admitted into the hospital ward.

If I get seriously ill or have an accident, can I receive medical care at Sophiahemmet?

Sophiahemmet Hospital is not an emergency care facility and thus does not have an emergency ward. If you are seriously injured or sick, call 112 or contact one of the emergency hospitals in Stockholm. Additional information is available at 1177 Healthcare Guide.

I would like to read my medical journal – how do I do this?

Please contact the specialist who treated you and the healthcare provider where the physician works to review your medical journal. A list of healthcare providers is provided here. Contact your general practitioner if you are unsure of the name of your specialist or healthcare provider.

How do I apply for a job at Sophiahemmet?

Job openings at Sophiahemmet are listed here. The link allows you to subscribe to our job openings. If you are interested in working at a specific clinic, contact the department head of the clinic directly. Our healthcare providers are listed here.