Interpretors
Most doctors speak excellent English but you are entitled to request an interpreter free of charge if you have booked an appointment. This may make it easier if you feel your situation or problem is a complex one or if your mother tongue is not English and you would rather use your mother tongue.

Choosing Your Doctor
Equally you have the right to choose your own doctor. If you feel uncomfortable, for whatever reason, with the doctor that has been assigned to you, you can request to be transferred to another doctor within the same practice (Vård). In the cities, it is becoming more of an issue that doctor’s books are becoming full so transferring may be a problem but if you are having real issues finding a doctor that suits you, there should be an advisor in the Vårdcentral to help you (just ask one of the doctors for the contact details). If you move house you can choose to either stay with the same doctor – if you feel you have established a good relationship – or transfer to somewhere more convenient.

Swede’s do not normally develop a personal relationship with their doctor – especially in busy city practices. You may therefore find any appointment a little impersonal, with little emphasis on your feelings and more on addressing your specific medical complaints. Do not take this personally – it is not because you’re foreign, it’s just the culture. If you want more emotional support, let them know how you feel, they may not realise that’s what you want. You may also find there is a lack of hands-on treatment. Generally speaking doctors tend to make their diagnosis by asking questions rather than by unnecessarily poking or prodding their patient.

Specialist Treatment
If you need to be referred to a specialist for treatment, your doctor should notify the specialist who will then arrange an appointment for you. It is possible to go straight to the specialist in many cases but you usually go through your local doctor.