In contacting doctors and hospitals, language should be no problem since virtually all speak English. The amounts paid to general practitioners are negotiated between the Association of General Practitioners and the Association of County Councils. A referral from a GP is necessary for specialist care except for ambulatory consultations with ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, dermatologists, and GYN specialists. Specialists are salaried, an amount negotiated by the Danish Medical Association with the Association of County Councils. Hospital care is provided by these salaried medical doctors in hospitals which are owned, managed, and mostly financed by county governments, with some supplements by national government grants.
Local governments are responsible for nursing homes and home care services.
The Danish patient pays nothing out of pocket for GP, specialist or hospital services. Small copayments may be necessary for physiotherapy and podiatry services as well as for such ancillary services as drugs and glasses. GPs and specialists may see Danish and non-Danish patients privately when not working for the public system, and charge for their services. As in most European countries there are waiting times for admission to hospitals for nonemergency surgery. There is no waiting time for emergency admissions.