My Experience With The Swedish Healthcare System | The Emergency Room

[@merlijnvantelamie9908]

I agree with you. As a patient and a doctor I experienced shocking and scandalous things in Stockholm. People here believe healthcare is the best because they compare everything to the USA. Healthcare is expensive in the USA, and once one is sick, they get the best care in the world, Here it is free (well not really free free) however taxes are very high and in most cases you will not get the help you need. You are guaranteed to meet a general doctor within 3 months and a specialist within further 3 months, so basically you are guaranteed to meet a specialist after 6 months, which is enough time for your cancer to spread and numerous other diseases to reach an irreversible or advanced stage. Doctors do not take patients seriously even though the time they have per patient is among the longest in Europe, there is a lack of sympathy, a lack of well informed consent and there are barely any consequences for medical mistakes. I wonder whether the Swedes do not know this, know it but do not do anything about it because they avoid conflicts in nature, or just embrace the fact that it is "free".

[@LivingSwedish]

You make some good points here. And it's so sad that it has be that way...

[@paulelledge8977]

Even when sick you most certainly don't get the best or even great care in the USA and even with insurance it may lead to bankruptcy depending on the problem and your healthcare network.

[@taistohentila6352]

Not the poor black children

[@FrostyMuffinHoN]

I'm from the UK and was left absolutely traumatised by my experience with emergency healthcare in Stockholm, mostly the lack of compassion and humanity displayed. I was experiencing facial paralysis (first time in my life) and was so scared. Straight away they told us my husband wasn't allowed to wait with me due to Covid restrictions. Instead he was made to wait outside, in sub-zero conditions as he wasn't allowed inside the hospital grounds! Nothing was explained to me, a nurse came and took my temperature and blood (in the corridor) and then left, when I asked any question she told me to wait for the neurologist. I was surrounded by people very clearly ill with Covid, heavy coughing and breathing difficulties but they had no separation for any of us waiting. Frankly I was shocked they were so recklessly exposing me to Covid. After 8 hours of waiting, yes 8 .. I was frantically walking up and down the entire hospital trying to find someone for information. The only nurse I saw said it wasn't her ward and walked away from me. Nobody cared. Then my phone battery died and I had no way of communicating with my husband. I returned to the reception crying - telling them I hadn't eaten or even been offered water, I hadn't been seen and nothing had been explained to me. When I went into hospital it was day time and by this point it was midnight. I was then told the neurologist had finished their shift for the night and gone home so I needed to wait a further 9 hours for the morning shift to begin. There was no offer of a hospital bed or even private waiting room. After experiencing what I can only describe as a mental breakdown at the way I was being treated I decided to discharge myself against their advice and walked out. I was shaking and crying but at least got to meet my husband outside and we got to go home and sleep. I have been living in Sweden for 2 years and have never gone back to a hospital since. I used to think the NHS had problems for making people wait 2+ hours but this was like nothing I could ever have imagined

[@AnimGhost]

Omg I hope you feel better now, that's a horrible experience! how can this country let this be... such a disappointment, is there any options? like private available? hope you are better now

[@LivingSwedish]

I'm so sorry to hear this! This is unacceptable!

[@sVVsam]

I also have UK experience and is way better then here. But still bad.

[@merlijnvantelamie9908]

I worked as a neurologist in Stockholm and it is scandalous what is happening in this city! The problem is that swedish people confuse "free healthcare" with "good healthcare" and swedish people only realize how shitty it is once they get really sick and seek help

[@rasmuswi]

As everyone has said, health care in Stockholm can be horrendous. My first thought when you mentioned four hours was that it wasn't much. I've experienced double that, and it wasn't even Stockholm. To be honest, I find the current leadership of the Stockholm healthcare region pretty appalling. For example, in January 2020, just a month before covid hit Sweden, they decided to lay off 25 % of all health care personnel. The health care personnel of course complained that they were unable to keep up with the workload even without the layoffs. Irene Svenonius, head of the Stockholm region, said in her typical Bagdad Bob fashion that this was no problem. In the meantime, they've spent billions on a brand new, and very dysfunctional hospital. Everything is going according to plan, according to Baghdad Bob. There is some speculation that all this is being done on purpose. They want to destroy the public health care system so people feel they have no choice but get private health care insurance. AFAIK Svenonius has some connections to private health care providers. I dearly hope that woman gets voted out in this year's elections.

[@birgittae9046]

I agree about your whole description exept one thing. Karolinska in Solna are not a dysfunctional hospital regarding my own experience. They saved my life 2019 and I got high level of professional treatment during a month at a specialist department there. I am so grateful. ❤️🙏🏻 So in my point of view Nya Karolinska’s operations have kept it good reputation after all, despite the management big misstakes. The staff do what they can and more than that and you feel safe with all the skilled professional staff and equipments. On the other hand, before that the Södersjukhuset risked my life refusing me treatment I searched for there. It ended up very urgent after a couple of days because of their reluctant behavior, and an ambulance had to get me there again. And SÖS didnt know what to do som they asked Karolinska in Solna for help. Yes the health care in the Stockholm Region is not managed well. Who shall we vote for to get apropriate changes of that? 🤔

[@FPfreddyyy]

@@birgittae9046 In sweden it depends very much where you live, how good health care you get. Myself I was being treated in gothenburg and I was given competent care by a specialist doctor after only a few weeks, then I moved to Skaraborg and I had to wait 1,5 years to a specialist.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sungod86]

Rasmus this is pure disinformation. Nya Karolinska is one of the best hospitals in the world with the world´s most highly trained professionals. Yes, many things in Stockholm health care system doesn´t work but stop slandering Nya Karolinska, a top hospital.

[@rasmuswi]

@@sungod86 nobody has questioned the competence of the people who work at Nya Karolinska. That isn't what the criticism is about. The woman that had to wait four days before Nya Karolinska could tell her what had happened to her wife (basically a DOA) didn't question their competence, she criticized the general dysfunctionality and opaqueness of the organization.

[@BerishStarr]

Swedish ER is very understaffed. Its a very much based on who need help first, so wait times can be long if your life is not in danger. Alot of Swedish nurses and doctors go to Norway to work, since the pay is higher there. In 2020 we had 24823 nurses in Norway, and 6800 doctors. We very much need them to work in Sweden, but our politicians....yeah.

[@LivingSwedish]

Yeh, I guess I was also upset because BVC told me I should go to ER when I thought it wasn't necessary... I could have saved them some time...

[@PamelasLas]

@@LivingSwedish also had that with my son, they say to go to akut so you don’t blame them later that they didn’t advise it

[@TheSimArchitect]

Sorry to hear it's that way there too. I thought you had a dual system where you could pay for private insurance to access better care. The Netherlands has a single system and we can't also pay to have something better privately or with a more expensive insurance. 😬 Universal health care is essential but we need to have choice if the public system lacks.

[@bensuico1224]

It seems that a number of years ago, before the very many illegals entered the country, it was much better. Nowadays, perhaps the system has become so overloaded and overburdened because a large number of those who have never paid taxes in the country have also to be taken care of. In other words, it appears that the demand for the service has greatly increased, while the compensation (through taxes) needed is missing, so the health care providers are possibly overwhelmed and the source of money required for efficiency is already greatly drained.

[@Gelis8]

I will say bad luck. This type of experience will become more and more common in Swedish healthcare. One reason is that the healthcare system is under significant savings, which means insufficient staff. Especially during the summer. I do not want to get involved in politics, but unfortunately the root of the problems is bad political decisions, and have been so under many year. But i hope this will not change your over all picture of Sweden.

[@LivingSwedish]

I'm still a big fan of Sweden. I guess not everything can be rainbow and roses 😅

[@andreagarcia5149]

Sweden is awesome country, but do not get ill! :( It's scary how things can complicate and you have to beg for help!

[@sVVsam]

No is not bad politics! That is part of the problem but for medical staff good excuse.

[@swaniejesadawaranont4313]

I feel so sad for you. No kidding....I cried when I heard your baby crying in this video. It's unbelievable you could stay that calm. I would have yelled at everybody there. I admire you and please continue sharing your honest experiences.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you! 🙏🏻 It was difficult to stay calm but I felt like I had to 🙏🏻

[@emilg]

Thank you for being honest with all your good (and bad) experiences so far. I'm very new to Sweden and I did have to go to the doctor recently but wasn't anything like you described, I might have gone to a private place though. I really hope this case is an outlier but from the comments it seems pretty normal which is sad to hear. Hope you two get better.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@reylatable]

It is exactly the same in Denmark 🇩🇰 , I moved here around a year and a half ago from a Latin American country and, I feel pretty defeated with the Healthcare system here. THEY are the ones who decide whether what you have is an emergency or not , there is no empathy , no compassion ; it is as if their only goal is to keep you at home/ out of the health system and , not take care of your health as such. The amount of frustration, concern and anxiety this creates is just astonishing. The only way you’d be taken seriously, is if you have something evident like a broken leg or arm for instance . I could go on and on .

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing! It's always interesting to hear how it is in other countries. But sorry to hear the healthcare system is not that great in Denmark. It's a shame that professionals don't have much time to really care about a patient. I agree there should be much more empathy and compassion 🙏🏻

[@bnatalie]

Thanks for your honesty, get well u both girls 🤍

[@LivingSwedish]

We're very well again, thanks so much! 🙏🏻

[@annalizheart]

Thank you for the honest video!

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@Tim_Nilsson]

Going through the ER can be a slow process but I've no experience with the health care in Stockholm. It's usually worse during the summer vacation period no matter which region you live in. This year will probably be particularly bad. I spent 6 h waiting in the ER the last time I needed some care. I had more or less sliced off the top of my right little finger (work accident). They prioritised the children so even though I was the first one let through to the proper department I was the last one to leave (by several hours). I had however visited my local hospital first (without ER) and had been given some temporary care with pain killers and some bandaging to slow the bleeding. So at the next hospital my case wasn't considered that urgent but the waiting game is boring and annoying no matter what. After 6 h and some x-rays I finally ended up getting my finger stitched back together by an orthopaedic surgeon. I believe I drove home 01:30 at night or something. Trying my best to keep the painful gear shifts to a minimum. ;)

[@LivingSwedish]

Wow, sorry to hear that and thanks for sharing!

[@DRTSWebWorks]

I am ED Dr in England. Currently, the average waiting time in ED is between 6 and 11 hours, especially in the late evenings.

[@soulstar5161]

4 hours in A&E? Thats very good. In Ireland I waited 9 hours just to be seen.

[@LivingSwedish]

I know it's not a long time but it feels like eternity with a newborn 😳

[@f.goossens8118]

Mrs F here. We have moved to Sweden fairly recently (last April) and registered with our nearest health centre, in Sveg. We are experiencing some difficulties with it. We cannot get appointments, see or speak to a doctor or get our repeat prescriptions renewed without seeing a doctor (see previous comment there, can't get one!) so, Catch 22. We have decided to go private, not because we're super rich but because we have health conditions that need to be treated and right now, they're not. But in looking online, I'm finding it very hard to find a list of private healthcare practitioners here, and wondered if anyone could help out with that please? I'm so sorry for your experience. More and more I am hearing similar experiences and people here seem very disenchanted with the health care system. I suspect currently (Feb '23) it's a growing global issue though.

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear that! I can imagine it's even trickier in the countryside compared to big cities like Stockholm.

[@TrueFisp112]

I have to weigh in here as a certified Swedish physician for 30+ years. The quality of Swedish health care is top notch/of world class since several decades. But we have a massive problem with availability (I would say mainly due to lack of qualified personal) and unequality between the autonomous health care regions in Sweden (there are 21 of them...). Which turned out to be very negative during the covid pandemic. I have since a long time advocated for state overtake of health care resources in this country to facilitate an even distribution of available services, but politicians in Sweden are in general ignorant of the fact that prioritation means that you have to say NO to certain areas of health care activities in order to provide means to other, more important sectors/activities when the resources are limited. But after all, the most important thing for politicians is to be elected for the upcoming 4 year period, which really fucks up every intention to change the system... Unfortunately, I think that this will be of massive negative impact in the future. One week left of my summer holidays and then back to the treadmill again.................

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TheSimArchitect]

You get what you pay for, sorry. I have been to a Swedish hospital a decade ago and also other countries'. I am yet to find a public health care system (or anything where there's no segregation between people who pay more or less for their insurance or use private care) that has good quality of service. You may have excellent doctors but waiting more than half hour in pain is unacceptable. Unless you're in the middle of a massive disaster, not as a typical service because "you are not dying". You can also see how people dislike when you're not dying and seek care. It's a system designed to justify the high taxes we pay and make the majority of the population believe they are getting something in return because they don't know better. If you have competition you attract the best professionals and also enough investment because money seeks money, not good deeds. Sorry.

[@ceicli]

I'm sorry that this happened to you! It shouldn't be like that. You have to be noisy and stubborn for them to notice you. Even that doesn't help every time. Since the 90s the health care has gradually gone worse. Underfunded and understaffed. It's scary that it's still better than certain countries. Especially in Stockholm the waits can be long. They've been seriously understaffed for years and it didn't get any better since the new hospital was built. I was in Mora and got into emergency surgery within 6h.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏻

[@razelorbigoso7439]

your voice break my heart because that's what i really feel. It is very unacceptable i feel so defenseless and so my kid during that time. They don't make the patient feel that they are there to help! they show and their body gesture that they don't want to help and the way they talk and look!.

[@LivingSwedish]

That is not okay.

[@kjelljohansson1799]

Hi ULi . i can say that i once have experience the same arrogance in an hospital. my littel daughter than about two yers ran into a door ( the edge of the door) and got a cut in her fore haed i got scared and call my wife she was working and i took my daughter and try to put on a bandid but on a two yers baby sceaming and of course she scared too. well i took the car a draw to the hospital in city and ran to the emergency to find the door closed and a door phone i called and a nurse answer that i should go around the hospital to the front and go in there. i got panik and shouted at her that if she didnt open the door in five second i should kick it in ,because the girl cry i was nerveous the blod dropped from her forhead. and sim sala bim the door got open of a sister and we got helped in to a room. a doctor came and striped the cut and talked with my girl so after a week we should take of the strip but she refused because she could tell every one about the acsedent and that you should not run in the apartment. well that was my experience of arrogant personal. But you can and should do a report to the hospital , you do a IVO report it is an accsedent report they had to investigate. because such a bad treatment you should not accsept. i apologize that you got treated like that in Sweden. its bad. Mvh.Kjell.

[@axelhallberg8349]

So sad to hear about your experience. Many swedes can probably relate to waiting hour after hour at the emergency room. Myself was in a really bad shape one time when I was 8-9 years old waiting with 42 degrees fever. Unfortunately the healthcare in Sweden is very "uneven" because every region has its own budget etc and Stockholm area is known for having one of the worst health cares in the country.

[@annicaesplund6613]

It's not the health care, it's the system and the politicians in the Region. Just look at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, it's supposed cost went up times 5-6. Those politicians should be in jail. Sweden also have a lack of nurses and doctors. The summer is going to be difficult in many Regions.

[@martinlomsater9660]

Yes good point it’s not the healt care it self it’s the politicians in charge of the system ….once you get treated it’s good the problem are to get there so to speak

[@axelhallberg8349]

​@@annicaesplund6613 Totally agree.

[@tomeng9520]

Det är det Moderata Blocket som bestämmer i hälsofrågor / har makten i Stockholm. Förra året hade Stockholm 45 miljarder i överskott. Deras strategi är att tjäna så mycket pengar som möjligt på hälsovården. Nu vet du hur du ska rösta i nästa val när du får rösta. Skål Tom

[@RobertClaeson]

On top of that, the regions not only handle healthcare, but also public transport and culture. Healthcare is far too important not be managed separately.

[@eleonoraf.29]

Italian living in Portugal. Here, we are experiencing something like 15/20 hours of waiting time in emergency in hospitals...

[@LivingSwedish]

Oh, that's interesting to hear! Glad it's not only Sweden. It could be worse apparently 😅

[@martinlomsater9660]

I am not surprised health care have some issues here in Sweden unfortunately. It can take like forever to get to a doctor all parents here have the same experience I think . Me and my ex experienced exactly the same like your story ….but we knowing in advance what we could expect there . My ex has a cousin who used to work as a doctor in Stockholm he left for Canada because of reasons …..

[@LivingSwedish]

Oh dear! Such a shame.

[@jelliebean2680]

Wow. I wonder how the cousin is doing in Canada. As a patient there, it's awful. My elderly mother couldn't even get a family doctor. My father waited 18 months for prostate cancer surgery.

[@Robert_Kawalec]

Hej, Yes, I have heard about "issues" with the healthcare system there. Schönes Wochenende noch.

[@LivingSwedish]

Dankeschoen! 😊

[@Robert_Kawalec]

@@LivingSwedish Gerne :)

[@E-jit]

So sorry to hear that but unfortunately that’s the way it is nowadays. I worked the reception at a children’s emergency room a few years ago, probably where you went. They really should have talked to you more and explained the situation, especially since you’re new to Sweden. Honestly 8-10 hours for the type of condition you described is more the norm on a busy day since they have a system to prioritise worst to mildest cases. They’re over worked and under paid. There was probably a lot more going on behind the scenes than what you saw. It’s infuriating for all parties when some nurse from another place tells people to go to the emergency room no matter what, it happens all the time. I’m not medically trained but I would suggest that you first try BVC (like you did) and then try Närakuten which is a light version of the emergency room in lack of a better term. They don’t have a system to prioritise according to severity, it’s first come first serve. There are a few places around the city, find out which one is closest to you. A good rule of thumb is that if you can theoretically wait until the next day and don’t absolutely have to go in right now then you shouldn’t go to the emergency room. Närakuten is your best bet if it’s not basically a life or death situation but still serious. The one in Katolinska Sjukhuset is good with babies too.

[@birgittae9046]

Good advice! I totally agree!

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for the advice! We also moved so I guess if anything happens again I'm going somewhere else.

[@E-jit]

@@LivingSwedish First check where your Vårdcentral is and go there if it’s nothing serious. Then check where your nearest Närakut is if it’s serious but not an emergency. Akuten should be your last option. Oh, and obviously check BVC the first thing you do as long as you have small children. Don’t let them talk you into going to the emergency room unless you feel like it’s an actual emergency.

[@jadu79]

It is noticeable that you do not follow Swedish news but it has been similar for a few years that the emergency rooms are very understaffed during the summer but also the rest of the year but the summers are even worse. Since Stockholm County has had a bourgeois government so they have saved money in health care, which has had its consequences on quality. But what I'm thinking about is that larger hospitals sometimes have children in emergency rooms that are for children only and where the staff are more used to children. Finally (assuming it is the same where you live) the taxi to the emergency room is sanctioned so it costs SEK 120-150 (do not know if you need a Swedish social security number for it)

[@birgittae9046]

What!? Do we get special price for taxi going to emergency hospitals? Where can I find this information?

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Mark-D-Lloyd-Artist]

Well done you, I understand your anger, I am a uk citizen and the health system is now broken, my father was having a heart attack and my mother managed to to get him in her car and drive him to a a big hospital, she trained and worked as a nurse when she was young, arriving at the A&E she was asked to take a seat - with him and wait as there was a queue, it was 3 am mid week, until she started screaming and demanding help she was just left, if she has waited in the queue- he would be dead. This week I had to call an ambulance to change my bandages on a large 3rd degree burn I have the full length of my tricep. In the day I collected the bandages from one doctors surgery but the nurse was not qualified and insured to change them for such a large wound, so I had to walk 1 hour to another dr surgery which I could not contact by phone, on arrival I was told the insured qualified nurse was off sick, I was advised to go home with a big bag of bandages and call an ambulance this took three hours to arrive, the local county had no available ambulances so an ambulance came from two districts away, when they arrived due to them not being covered in my district with insurance they would not change the bandages. Btw this was now 8pm, they checked if I had a fever which could show if the wound was infected if I had a fever, I did not, so they said go to the hospital the next day and take the bandages and someone they can help… after covid the system is totally broken ( for the poor and many) hence all those who are wealthy have private health care. Its a mess

[@Mark-D-Lloyd-Artist]

Btw thank you for sharing your experience and I hope you and your child are both well xx

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear that! Sounds really tough 😢

[@dundergud9341]

Your experience is probably among the better ones to be honest, which is not to say that it was in any way acceptable. It's certainly a bit different when it's a baby, but just know that at least with adults, people sometimes die after having waited for many hours and not yet been seen by a doctor. The time that you have to wait or barely be attended to can be up to 24 hours.

[@LivingSwedish]

That's just crazy! 😱

[@kennethsteelhammer]

Sorry to hear but going to the ER is often a bad idea. Swedish healthcare is often good. Once you get help that is. Going to BVC first would have been better. Sounds like they didn't want to deal with it.

[@LivingSwedish]

Yeah, I thought the same. Going to BVC would have been better. But they send me to ER 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@_Wolfsbane_]

Did you go to one of the largest hospitals ER? They are infamous of being understaffed, and often overcrowded. I once spent 3 hours at one of the largest with a pulled hamstring and no insulin which they couldn't provide (in a hospital!)*. I went home and tried at a private hospital, I got through it all in an hour. * Second time I spent 4 hours at the same hospital with a broken arm - but I was high on morphine and could nap so it wasn't too bad 😄. I even got a booster ... The hospitals have a report phone number for complaints of mistreatment - use it! What I'd do in a case like yours is to visit a "vårdcentral" instead - they are usually pretty efficient and with doctors stationed there.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing! It was actually quite a small hospital but oh well.

[@_Wolfsbane_]

@@LivingSwedish ah that's bad then. Still report the incident though. And still rather go to a "vårdcentral". 😉 You can call them as well for advice. Also that system is suppose to be optimized for that route.

[@annicaesplund6613]

Just like in many other countries we have a lack of nurses and doctors. This have no reflection on the care or treatment itself, but you have to wait... The triage might have put you back depending on importance as well, worse cases is seen to first.

[@LivingSwedish]

Yeh, that makes sense.

[@Joseph-xt2qg]

Sorry about your experience. Honestly, I think this is how things tend to go with socialized services - you are not important as an individual and providers are not as strongly incentivized to provide good service. Also, they tell you what's best for you based on their policies and procedures while your knowledge and preferences matter very little, if at all. In the US, I've been on both more socialized health plans (Kaiser) and more free ones (Blue Cross PPO), and I definitely noticed this contrast for myself.

[@LivingSwedish]

Yeh, I get a better picture more and more :)

[@chrippao1720]

Very sad of your experience, fully understand your anger and frustration. The tragedy is that there are no surprise. Parts of the welfare system as whole has been under stress for years without reinforcements, but the healthcare is on a whole other cellar level. The lack of nurses and employees are to the extreme, the system are on knees, the vacation time does not help especially in Sthlm region. Ultimately there are a lack of real leadership, understanding and resources, and I can definately imagine it affects the morale of the employees. So many times past years there has been critical debates, strikes, alarming signals from nurses/doctors, terminations etc. Frankly put it's a task politicians have kept avoiding. We have called 1177 a couple times due our baby/toddler daughter having 39+ fever or cough. The answer has usually been to take some antifebrile or expectorant for babies and observe if the fever keeps consistent, if it does THEN the advise as been going to ER, (which is a time wasting nightmare mostly, I cannot imagine it with a 3mo baby). As someone said, BVC is probably more direct and better in most aspects for these occasions.

[@LivingSwedish]

Yeh, I thought BVC would be best but they actually said they don't do ill kids.

[@cynic7049]

Well, Swedish heathcare is run on county basic and Stockhom county is worse than most since the centerright coallition running it knows that many of their voters have private healthcare insurance and most of the rest is as likely to blame the center left goverment as the county board. But generaly speaking avoid the Emergency room as far as possible unless there are a real and obvious Emergency since they will prioritize those and they will get handled before you which mean pretty much all cases that are not life and death will involve a lot of waiting (and as mentioned Stockho county is among the worst). By the way, if you get tired of waiting you can just leave but you should find somone working there to tell (which may be hard) not just dissappear.

[@LivingSwedish]

Yeh, I didn't want to go in the first place but then my BVC nurse said it's better to go. I felt like I better follow the rules. But next time I observe a little longer and I should just be stronger to say and make my own decisions.

[@kennethsteelhammer]

@@LivingSwedish - well said. Agree 💯

[@DNA350ppm]

@@LivingSwedishCome to think of it - as you have no grandmothers or sisters in Sweden, of course, so a support group among parents is a security - so much functions here thanks to relatives, so if you have two children, it is a blessing. Take a taxi to and from the hospital, ask the doctor to write on a form that it was needed, so you get the money back. If a friend drives you, she can get paid. You need a person who accompanies you, because of the waiting time: you need to go to the toilet, have something to eat, etc, and you don't want to miss your place in the queu, and you want to make phone calls. Which you cannot do, with a crying baby in your arms. Your husband should be free to jump in when it is an emergency or difficulty - he has paid and legal child-leave to back him up. There is so much to learn!

[@bakatstravarenmattsson3418]

I have experienced the same at the emergency, the waiting for a doctor took 6 h.

[@bakatstravarenmattsson3418]

I think this "system" is very backwards. few clients and long waiting time.

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear that! 🙏🏻

[@sofieromanovspector6677]

Terrible. Really sorry to hear this and that you felt like nobody listened or cared. And that you had to go with public transport! I think that it CAN help sometimes to be determined and say NO. I have also been there waiting the whole night. Even if it's not crowded in the waiting room the super urgent cases come with ambulance directly in to care, so you don't see them. My mother did when she had a heart condition.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you! Yeh, I feel like I should have left after like 2 hours. I know better now.

[@KilgoreTroutAsf]

The waiting list for a neuropsychiatric investigation in Stockholm is around 18 months, and that is starting from the moment your doctor asks for one, which could be after a whole life of doctors handwaving , downplaying and downright ignoring your concerns. Other people I know have had to wait a comparable amount of time to get in a program for chronic mood disorders while attempting suicide multiple times in the meantime. Someone I knew died of cancer after having waited for scans and treatment for over a year. She got it the same day for free in a public hospital in Barcelona while she went there on vacation shortly before she died. I am a strong believer in freedom, nonviolence and human rights, but I have never thought of people more deserving of the death penalty as the right wing politicians destroying critical public services. That is, after all, what they say they believe in: personal responsibility for one's actions.

[@LivingSwedish]

🥺

[@larka742]

as it has been for me and my kids - having 40 degrees and above for a period of time, and the medicine doesnt work - thats the limit of when to get help. Just then you contact the local healthcare, you call in and get into queue (leaving a message is that) so you get called back. So my guess is that they just prioritized you at the lowest level. The likelihood that you and the baby had the same most likely did lower their concern as it being something more dangerous. A tip is to look for a smaller ER, could be a bit longer trip but it could be worth it. In Stockholm area there are "Vårdcentraler" that are open for ER patients 24/7, "Närakuter"....

[@JasTheKariol]

When I had a couple of "Swedish Healthcare" experiences I realised why everyone is hitting the gym on a regular basis and noone smokes in Sweden: they don't want to end up in one of their vårdcentral or hospitals.

[@D-ragon-S]

I understand your frustration as mother to a newborn. It was the ER... so do you know how many ambulances that arrived from the start of you being there?? How many doctors with pediatric education was on duty. Did they call in a specialist from another hospital? Understaffed due to the pandemic or vacations? New, more urgent, cases coming in via 1177? I wish the circumstances are different next time.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you!

[@pavolkubecka2698]

Sorry to hear that. But thanks for doing an honest video.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you! 😊

[@kernijaharris9466]

I’m sorry you and your baby had such a bad experience, that was inexcusable on their part.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you! I'm glad we're all well again 😊

[@Lana.i.]

I agree from Gothenburg I experience that everyday with the elders living at home in need of a medical elder home or hospitals, or even the 911 of sweden with ambulanses... 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear! 🥺

[@davidornberg]

It is very different in what region in Sweden You live in. Some are good, some are less good.

[@LivingSwedish]

Makes sense!

[@JennySEJ]

As others have commented, this is Swedish healthcare in a nutshell. You weren't being singled out, this happens no matter who you are. I'm a nurse myself, and have bad experiences both as a patient, as staff, and from knowing hospital politics. Last time i needed to go to the emergency room, it was ten years ago now, I woke up with blurred vision and a painful bump at my temple, I advised my local vårdcentral because i knew it was potentially dangerous and they booked me for a visit later that day, but called me back saying the doctor wanted me to go directly to akuten instead, because it seemed like it was nessesary. He even called Akuten to make sure I was prioritized. So i did what I was advised. I still had to wait for 6h because they did not care about the doctors prioritize request. When i finally met a doctor, she examined my entire body, except my bump at the temple, and proceded to ask me "how are you really doing? I can feel your heart pound through your chest". And i just looked her straight in the eye, confused and frustrated, but told her very calmly; I've been here since 9 this morning, its now 3 in the afternoon; am tired, have not had breakfast yet, and i am scared, because I was told by the doctor this morning i needed urgent care because of my symptoms, and you have not even checked MY BUMP ON MY TEMPLE, AND THATS WHY I AM HERE. she straight up told me that she didn't believe i even had any bump and that it seemed like I was in need of psychiatric care instead. I could litteally hear the patient in the bed next to me behind the curtain gasp, because they heard everything. This female doctor called another doctor in, he checked my temple and indeed found the bumb, and had me sent to a specialist because he agreed it needed attention. In my file from Akuten, the female doctor wrote that i seemed mentally unstable and nervous. No consideration at all for the circumstances. It affected my future care at vårdcentralen, because they saw her note and took it in consideration every time I had an appointment there. I was labelled imaginary sick, when i tried to get medical care because I had hormonal changes. They where due to a freaking tumour growth in my brain, that they forgot to tell me about for YEARS. That female doctor from Akuten ten years ago, and the system in general, is part of the reason I quit my job as a nurse 2 years ago.. Because my experience is not even unusual. I have seen and experienced too much both in my profession and in private to know that This is the healthcare our politicians actually want us to have. They want it to be unequal, depending on where you live. You have every right to be angry and disappointed by the medical system in this country, and how you where treated. When people on here say "i hope it doesn't change your view on Sweden!!" I must say, I actually hope it Does change your view. Because if a country is great "as long as you don't get sick!" It's not a great country overall. Adequate health care should never come last, and people living in Sweden need to speak up, and stand up for their human rights.

[@Vidis88]

you go to the emergency when you have 1-2 hours left before death, otherwise stay away.

[@LivingSwedish]

🥺

[@birgittae9046]

I think it was a bad recommendation from the Barnavårdscentralen that you should go to go to an emergency deparment in this case. They should have checked your baby at their place or at the local health care center. Did you really go to the most apropriate place regarding your actual needs? Did you have several options? Akutmottagningar in larger central hospitals are for emegence life saving cases only. And especially in Stockholm, too many people compete for the doctors, and other staffs, limited time schedule and and possible attention for each visitor. They have to set priorities that does not correspond with the visitors needs for mental and physical comfort. The staff are there to save lives, and set their priority in that order. thats their mantra. And if you are unlucky, with other incoming serious cases, you have to wait extra long. Its not a comfortable place to go to. I agree. I avoid it as much as I can. 4 hours waiting, while the staff has urgent cases to handle, is not unusual and yes a very exhausting experience with those type of receptions. My advice: Go as local as you can, and at daytime weekdays is of course the best. Avoid the emergecy receptions if it is not urgent. Where did you go? To a big hospital or to a local ”närakut”? It is big differencies how the look up on you needs on different levels of the Regional health care organisation. At Karolinska in Solna they have a special emergency reception for kids. Maybe that would have been another treatment for you and your baby in your case? I hope you and your baby are feeling better now.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you! Yes, we went to a local ”närakut” as per recommendation. It was the nearest one for us. It was also in Nacka and not in central Stockholm. I do get that the emergency department has long waiting times and that there are more urgent cases. That's why I didn't want to go there 😅 But I hoped that it's different when you have a newborn... I will push for a proper appointment next time.

[@birgittae9046]

That sounds good to demand better attention next time. When a so little baby is sick I think they always should give you quicker attention. Of course you are worried then and also need to sit comfortable when feeding etc. When I have anything urgent I used to go to Nacka Närakuten. Sometimes they have been really quick and nice, other occacions there have been much longer waiting times and a very stressful visit and not nice. It differs from time to time very much unfortunately. 🥲 But in my case I can cool down easier not having a small child to worry about. Hope you got a better experience next time. 🙏🏻🤗

[@e.b.4379]

Ear temperatures aren't as accurate as rectal temperatures. Don't use ear probe thermometers on babies younger than 3-5 months. Rectal thermometer should be used for a first pass and for all children younger than 3 years, a rectal temperature remains always the most accurate.

[@andersmalmgren6528]

Our health care would be much better if we implemented a insurance system like the Swiss or the Dutch model.

[@LivingSwedish]

I can see that, yes!

[@rexuz2482]

I've been to the ER once, 4 years ago and I had to wait less than 5 minutes before they called me in and it wasn't anything life threatening either. Depends on where in the country you are most likely.

[@LivingSwedish]

That sounds like a good experience! 👌🏻

[@runesvensson5426]

if there is a seriously ill patient or an accident, it takes precedence over all others. I had a heart attack last weekend, came in by ambulance, received immediate care.

[@LivingSwedish]

OMG I hope you're okay!

[@runesvensson5426]

I am well now. Staying in the hospital costs SEK 110 per day. Going by ambulance costs SEK 250. That is Swedish welfare.

[@razelorbigoso7439]

I am still shocked in my experience here in Emergency Hospital in Sweden. The Doctors and Nurses is lack of emotion, empathy, they are simply like a complete ROBOT! its so pointless to go to the hospital here in Sweden you will not die because of your current sickness maybe, but you will die because of the trauma that they will give you. If you come with a sick child in the hospital.. The Nurses will judge you first before they will check the status of you sick child! and if its not serious they will tell you ´´ you should just stay home´´. Its very very very bad!..

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience! 😔

[@DNA350ppm]

Very traumatic for sure. Sometimes it happens, it is really humiliating. I don't think it is because you're not a Swede, it is because they are helpless and understaffed, and have ridiculous rules to follow anyway. They often don't know how to handle a patient, who doesn't know the system. It can be something very bureaucratic that they are thinking of, but of which you know nothing, but which they think is a deliberate breaking of the rules and customs they expect you to follow. Routines change all the time, so this crash between expectations happens to Swedes very often, too. I remember many incidents that were really absurd. Always try to remember to explain your situation, why you showed up, on who's recommendation, and ask, ask, ask. Talk about this situation with your BVC, ask them how they think you should have handled it all, because you have to learn for the future, with the kids and all, and nobody thinks outside the box and uses independent judgement over here. It is all well-regulated in detail - it is not flexible. Count on that, and next time: alarm your hubby, that he comes with you to ER, and if needs be take the older daughter with him (if she is not in dagis). Alone at ER in a hospital is a very hard situation, absolutely. And Vårdcentralen again has no ER, they only have open for patients coming without a timereservation for an hour or twovery early, and maybe not every day. Maybe they don't have a doctor for more than a few hours a day a few days a week? You must learn more about this, because nobody will spontaneously help or inform you, maybe just judge for doing the wrong thing. One never knows. I feel so so sorry for you, this was beyond imagination.

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you for all the tips and insights! You're absolutely right that I have to learn more about the system and I will :)

[@flyingsoulshigh]

my comment deleted but why ?

[@LivingSwedish]

I have not seen your comment. I usually don't delete comments but sometimes it goes automatically into spam set up by KZbin. However, I haven't seen your comment there either.

[@kristel1559]

Unfortunately, your experience is everyday in the emergency room, can also not understand why it should take so long. This has been the case for many years. It is constantly said that it will get better but nothing happens.

[@LivingSwedish]

😔

[@hurmur9528]

You do not call BVC when you have a fever. It is vårdcentralen you call or go to when the child is sick but in this young age you go to the ER.. I do not understand the complaint about the kid getting a thermometer in the bum that is the way you do it for that young kids. The ear thermometer is not right to do in such a young age. Still they usually let the parents do it but there is nothing wrong with the procedure. The waiting period is really bad though and I have experienced that as well. Not at first at the old karolinska Astrid Lindgren but on later visits on new karolinska... that place was chaos. My experience there was a nightmare. Far worse than just waiting. They really did a terrible job. They lost our urin sample. And they over treated him doing just about everything for a fever that he got better from anyhow. It was a complete disaster and it was 10 hours waiting period not 4 hours and when the treatment was even worse we wish we would never have gone there. First the one or two hours trying to take blood from a shaky nurse that more or less hurt our child. And then spending the night in an extremely bad infection ward (with only young staff not knowing what they where doing). And I have seen really good ER for children as well. But health care system is not top of the line in many regards. It went down in quality a decade ago. But in some it is. So it depends on what is happening. They are really good at early births for example. You do not have to be afraid to leave the ER. That is your right to do and just explain to them that you are leaving. Since you child is not in danger you have the right to do that. But you should return of course if something change.

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear you also had a bad experience! I'm sure next time will be better and not in the ER 🤞🏻

[@hurmur9528]

@@LivingSwedish Yes, you also live in Stockholm area if I remember correctly. They have bin saving a lot of money on health care here. But on the same time they did an enormous investment on the new Karolinska. Full with so many faults and extreme costs. I guess it is better now but in the beginning that was the worst place you could end up in. We visited later and then it was much calmer and we got help quickly. But ER experience is not that fun. I waited a long time on old Karolinska for kids as well but it was so professional. They worked in teams for every patients. Not at all the same experience as an adult in ER.

[@jenx2084]

Its like this every day in America. No one cares. Long waits. Its terrible. Sometimes your better staying home and managing on your own only going in if your certain you are dying. Sorry that you were left alone in room for hours. I understand you staying bc you did not want a social worker at your door. Seems like they were not communicating at all. Not a shocker in health care.

[@philisiwedlamini-jh5mv]

my son cannot talk and i have made the health care aware of this for over a year now and nothing gas been done but meetings after 6 months woth nothing and only got to see my son in a school environment once .I have told different things and promised only to be given cards to work with at home .My child doesn't even have help with a specialist at school and yet the tac is high .It all a facade .I lived in England and trust me it way better than Sweden

[@LivingSwedish]

I’m very sorry to hear that! That sounds very frustrating. My impression was that children are being taken care of quite well here. How old is your son? Where did you go for help?

[@tomeng9520]

Hi Living Swedish! It is the Moderate Bloc that decides on health issues / has power in Stockholm. Last year, Stockholm had a surplus of SEK 45 billion. Their strategy is to make as much money as possible on health care. Julie now you know how to vote in the next election when you get to vote. Skål Tom Hi Living Swedish ! Det är det Moderata Blocket som bestämmer i hälsofrågor / har makten i Stockholm. Förra året hade Stockholm 45 miljarder i överskott. Deras strategi är att tjäna så mycket pengar som möjligt på hälsovården. Julie nu vet du hur du ska rösta i nästa val när du får rösta. Skål Tom

[@LivingSwedish]

Thank you, Tom! I will look into this and definitely use my vote properly :)

[@bogustavnilsson]

Så sant Tom ...... det har blivit katastrof , och värre blir det med denna Nazi regering 👺💀

[@roopsai8159]

Worst health infrastructure i ever seen. In my India i get treated on same day 10 times cheaper than Sweden. In Sweden i waited for a week. And they only want money. This country need help from other countries they should import some doctors from other countries.

[@LivingSwedish]

There is certainly an issue in Sweden.

[@joachimkylhammar5084]

that is because swedich hospitals and other care systems are under stafft the politics wont pay for better care sorry for bad eng

[@LivingSwedish]

So sad!

[@larsstromberg7975]

You should have called your mother instead. Although she would probably say: kids gets fever, it’s normal, don’t worry.

[@LivingSwedish]

Absolutely! I know what to do next time 😉

[@teebeshore]

The worst healthcare I have ever experienced, arrogant doctors, long waiting times and many times even with obvious simptoms you get the wrong treatment. There is many more to mention but i dont know if my rant will change something .... simply they just don´t care !

[@freewill8218]

Om du inte gillar sjukvården i Sverige. Åk hem.

[@martennyman6624]

😥

[@LivingSwedish]

🙏🏻

[@stiglarsson8405]

Thanks about your experiance of living in Sweden! Its this, one dont like to end up in the Emergency Room, at any hospital! However, you kind of adapted real fast, knowing about 1177, to talk to a nurse. Then to the emergency room of swedish hospitals, swedish doctors says that half of those sitting in the waiting room could instead visit there family doctor, (Vårdcentral)! I was one of those in my youth! And then at later years, it was my old father or mother! Its this, they was in there end of life. And then to other comentators about swedish healtcare system, learn this, its always some sort of crisis in sweden, internaly, global, or localy, you have to learn about "krismedvetande"! In anyway, I think that I understand your frustration, sitting in ER whith a small child, probably sort of when I was sitting in ER beside one of my parents?

[@LivingSwedish]

Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏻

[@reelzsargos2716]

Sorry to hear that….I had terrible experience with Swedish healthcare.I immediately took flight to India as pain was unbearable and was rectified within a day. Tips to those who have medical illness , Never come to Sweden !!!

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear that! 😔

[@Predilus]

If you're going to the ER you have to take into account that you're not the only one that has an emergency. It happens in the best health care systems. If the ER is not very well staffed your patience will be tested even more. The ER staff has to do the triage (decide quickly what comes first) and you will have to live with that.

[@cieslaolsztyn8266]

I can not recomend living in Sweden. The state can kidnapp your children

[@LivingSwedish]

Sorry to hear that!

[@rasmusisaksson7838]

I understand the feeling, being in another country and having a baby that needs hospital care can be very freightening. But I am use to hospitals. Bigger hosoitals are very busy. There are local emergency centrals almost everywhere that should be able to let You see a doctor sooner. That is the first place You should go if it is not life threatening and that shouldnt take as long as it does in bigger hospitals. There are a lot going on in bigger hospitals that You dont see in the waiting room. Also, we have a shortage of doctors. 4 hours seems like a long time but it is not in Swedish standards. They need to prioritize and they didnt see Your baby's condition as life threatening. Our emergency care is free and we pay very little to go to the doctors. It is covered mostly in our tax bills. You only pay for a fraction of what it really cost. In america, for example, You need an insurrance to get the treatment in Sweden that You get almost for free. I assure You that when things turn life threatening You will get one of the best treatments in the entire world. Now, this does not excuse for the lack of communication. And of course it is understandable to not like it there and to wish it can be done quicker. I just dont want You to believe that they didnt care about You. It may feel like that sometimes but I am sure they did. And they know what they are doing. Also, worth knowing, it is our regions that are respinsible for the health care in Sweden, not the state. So there are a lot of differences depending on where You are.

[@ajetiajeti2126]

We are a poor country and a criminal country we have no doctors. And doctors are extrem arroganc but police are very nice and fredlindlig they drink only coffe.

[@michaelpettersson6028]

Many people, including my self get a private healthcare insurance because of the VERY bad healthcare the goverment provide.

[@Zandman26]

I feel the Swedish healthcare went south after we changed to use more private actors in the market. And is probably why private health insurance is now going up. And 10-20 years from now continuing the same path we will have the equivalent of US helthcare. All because people think that privatizing everything will be the golden carrot, even when we can see what it leads to...

[@LivingSwedish]

I didn't think private healthcare is necessary in Sweden...

[@petterrix3144]

Yes, the health system sucks🇸🇪

[@LivingSwedish]

😔

[@stefanbranden4898]

You guys are still alive? So what are you complaining about????

[@LivingSwedish]

Just sharing my experience 😉

[@taistohentila6352]

39 is nothing for a child. i have four children . never had problem with the healthcare.