Access to treatment in specialist medical care
The Act specifies the time limits within which patients in specialized medical care must gain access to non-urgent care (statutory care guarantee). However, in urgent cases treatment must be provided immediately. Non-urgent specialized medical care requires a referral from a physician or dentist. On this page, you will find information on care needs assessment and average waiting times.
Under the Health Care Act, the wellbeing services county is responsible for ensuring that both urgent and elective care needs assessments and actual care are provided on consistent medical or dental grounds. We are responsible for access to specialized medical care in Uusimaa. Helsinki and the wellbeing services counties of Uusimaa are responsible for access to primary healthcare.
Time limits defined in the Health Care Act
Current situation in HUS for access to treatment
Access times to care at our hospitals vary by specialty. The figure below shows the median waiting time (in days) for the various specialties. The median waiting times are obtained when all waiting times are ranked and the middle value is taken.
Number of patients awaiting treatment by specialty
30.11.2024
| erikoisala | mediaani |
|---|---|
| sisätaudit | 31 |
| kirurgia | 82 |
| neurokirurgia | 45 |
| naistentaudit ja synnytykset | 53 |
| lastentaudit | 38 |
| silmätaudit | 67 |
| korva-, nenä- ja kurkkutaudit | 40 |
| foniatria | 40 |
| hammas-, suu- ja leukasairaudet | 68 |
| ihotaudit ja allergologia | 23 |
| syöpätaudit | 8 |
| psykiatria | 23 |
| neurologia | 33 |
| keuhkosairaudet | 24 |
| perinnöllisyyslääketiede | 46 |
| fysiatria | 18 |