Landlæknisembættið - Directorate of Health

20.10.2009

Telephone service for influenza patients

In case of influenza-like illness patients can call the nearest primary health care centre in their neighbourhood or region during day-time opening hours. At other hours, from 16:00 p.m. to 08:00 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends, you can dial the on-call service in your region or the Central GPs’ On-call Service (Læknavaktin), tel. 1770, which also answers inquiries from rural areas in case of need.

In case of acute, severe illness, call 112.

The answering service of the Red Cross Helpline, 1717, provides general information on influenza issues. The helpline staff and volunteer workers have all received training and guidance from the Chief Epidemiologist for this purpose and their main function is to relieve general fear and reduce the work load on primary health care workers and health care on-call services. The helpline is open 24 hours a day. It will not answer any inquiries about the illness of callers or their relatives but will refer such inquiries directly to the relevant primary care centre or to the Central GPs’ On-call Service.

Chief Epidemiologist for Iceland