Expanded free hospital choice

Book an appointment
Hospitalbygning med et korssymbol.

The Extended Free Hospital Choice (DUF) is your right to choose a private hospital when there is a waiting time of more than four weeks in the public sector.

Charlottenlund Private Hospital offers fast and highly specialized treatment to patients who want to avoid waiting times in the public sector, either through the expanded free hospital choice, private health insurance or as a private payer.


We have no waiting time, and we perform all types of examinations, tests and treatments within the ear, nose and throat area. Cancer treatments are an exception to this. We were approved as an agreement hospital in January 2020 and treat many patients every month through the expanded free hospital choice.

What is extended free hospital choice?


If you are a patient at a public hospital, you have the right to be examined, diagnosed, or treated within four weeks. If the hospital cannot meet this time frame, you are entitled to receive your examination, diagnosis, or treatment at a private hospital. When receiving care through the extended free hospital choice, there are no out-of-pocket costs, as the expenses are fully covered by the region.

Charlottenlund Private Hospital North Zealand is an approved partner hospital under the Danish Regions' extended free hospital choice scheme. This means that even if you live in the Region of Southern Denmark or the Central Denmark Region, you still have the opportunity to be treated at Charlottenlund Private Hospital.

Treatment guarantee

The treatment guarantee comes into effect if you have to wait more than 30 days for a planned treatment, or if your surgery date is changed. For example, if you need to have your tonsils removed and the treatment guarantee of four weeks cannot be met in the public sector, you can have the surgery at Charlottenlund Private Hospital. The treatment guarantee has been increased to 60 days for a period of time, but has been lowered again to 30 days as of 1.1. 2025.


The procedure itself takes place when you receive a letter in your inbox stating that you have obtained the right to treatment through extended free hospital choice. You must then contact the patient advisor who is associated with the hospital to which you have been referred. You can see current waiting times on My Hospital Choice. The patient advisor will contact the selected private hospital and send the necessary information. Finally, dublot must call the private hospital to make further arrangements regarding the treatment.


Please note that the 4-week waiting period is calculated as 30 days from the date the hospital in your region of residence receives a referral from your doctor until the date the treatment can start.


 Rights when changing the surgery date

If you have been offered a surgery date that the hospital subsequently changes, you also have the right to choose to have the surgery performed at a private contracted hospital - regardless of the extent of the postponement.


Read more about the rules at www.sygehusvalg.dk



Examination  guarantee

The guarantee of examination is also called the right to rapid examination. It comes into effect when you are referred to a public hospital by a doctor to be examined (examined to determine the cause of your symptoms), but the waiting time exceeds 30 days. In public hospitals, it is not always possible to meet this time frame, and therefore you obtain the right to be examined at a private hospital.


As with the treatment guarantee, the practical aspects of using the investigation guarantee are handled by a patient advisor. The patient advisor acts as a contact person between you and the private hospital. As a private hospital, we only begin the investigation once the purchase order and medical records have been received – not before.

Read about expanded free hospital choices

Click here to read more about the expanded free hospital choice at www.sundhed.dk

Read about the Ministry of Health and the Elderly's brochure

Click here to read the Ministry of Health and the Elderly's brochure "When you are referred to hospital"

Explanation of terms


Learn about the difference between:

  • Expanded free hospital choice

    Extended free hospital choice means that you have the right to be examined, examined and treated at a private hospital if you have to wait more than 30 days at a public hospital.

  • Free choice of hospital

    Free choice of hospital only applies to public hospitals. It is your right to choose a public hospital of your choice. As a citizen of Denmark, you are free to choose between all public hospitals and departments for your treatment.

  • Use of private health insurance

    With private health insurance, you can be treated at a private hospital without a waiting period. You do not need to be referred from a public hospital first. Many are covered by employer-paid health insurance or through your spouse's health insurance, which often covers the treatment. With private health insurance, you can be treated at a private hospital without a waiting period. You do not need to be referred from a public hospital first. Many are covered by employer-paid health insurance or through your spouse's health insurance, which often covers the treatment.

  • Use of public health insurance

    At the same address we also have a public ear, nose and throat clinic by specialist Jesper Balle. Here, patients who have a "Health Card" (the yellow health insurance card) are treated. The ENT clinic is an independent unit located at the same location as the private hospital. The clinic is owned by Jesper and is not related to the free public hospital choice or use of private health insurance. Contact us if you have any questions about the above.

Information, advice and guidance


In your notice from the hospital, you can read which patient office you can contact to get information and guidance on whether you are eligible to choose a private hospital.


The invitation provides information about, among other things:


  • Time and place of your examination, examination or treatment
  • The region can offer you diagnostic examination, investigation or treatment within the 30-day period.
  • The right to a rapid assessment and your options for using the expanded free choice of hospital
  • Waiting times for treatment at hospitals in your region of residence and other regions


If you wish to have surgery through the expanded free hospital choice at Charlottenlund Private Hospital, you simply need to contact the patient counselor at the hospital that has referred you. The patient counselor will then ensure that your referral is forwarded to us so that you can contact us.


Read more about our examinations and treatments, or contact us.