Extended free choice of hospital

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 one

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


We have no waiting time, and we carry out all kinds of investigations, examinations and treatments in the ear-nose-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 extended free choice of hospital.

What is extended free choice of hospital?


If you are a patient in a public hospital, you have the right to be investigated, examined or treated within four weeks. If this time frame cannot be observed, you gain the right to be investigated, examined or treated by a private hospital. If you are investigated, examined or treated through extended free choice of hospital, there is no out-of-pocket payment for the treatment, as the costs are covered by the region.


Charlottenlund Privathospital Nordsjælland is approved as an agreement hospital within the extended free choice of hospital by the Regions. This means that even if you live in Region South or Central - you also have the option of being 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. If, for example, you need to have your tonsils removed, and the treatment guarantee of four weeks cannot be met in the public sector, you can be operated on at Charlottenlund Private Hospital. The treatment guarantee has for a period been set up to 60 days, but has been lowered again to 30 days per 1.1. 2025


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


ATTENTION! you must be aware that the waiting period of 4 weeks is calculated as 30 days from the date on which the hospital in your region of residence receives a referral from your doctor, and until the date on which the treatment can start.


 Rights when changing the operation date

If you have been offered an operation date which the hospital subsequently changes, you also have the right to choose to have the operation carried out at a private contract hospital - regardless of the extent of the postponement.


Read more about the rules at www.sygehusvalg.dk



Investigation guarantee

The investigation guarantee is also called the right to a quick investigation. It comes into effect when you are referred to a public hospital by a doctor to be investigated (examined for the cause of your symptoms), but the waiting period exceeds 30 days. In the public sector, it is not always possible to comply with this time frame, and therefore you obtain the right to be examined in a private hospital.


Just as with the treatment guarantee, the practicalities surrounding the use of the investigation guarantee take place through a patient advisor. The patient advisor acts as a contact person between you and the private hospital. As a private hospital, we only start the investigation when the purchase order and medical records have been received - not before.

Concept explanation


Learn about the difference between:

  • Extended free choice of hospital

    Extended free choice of hospital means that you have the right to be investigated, 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 can freely 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 waiting time. They do not need to be referred from a public hospital first. Many are covered by employer-paid health insurance or via your spouse's health insurance, which often covers the treatment. With private health insurance, you can be treated at a private hospital without waiting time. They do not need to be referred from a public hospital first. Many are covered by employer-paid health insurance or via your spouse's health insurance, which often covers the treatment.

  • Use of public health insurance

    Charlottenlund Private Hospital also houses a public ear-nose-throat clinic v. specialist doctor Jacob Fisker. Here you can be treated through the yellow health card. This is an independent unit under our private hospital and not related to the free choice of public hospital or use of private health insurance.

Information, advice and guidance


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


The notice informs, among other things, about:


  • Time and place for your investigation, examination or treatment
  • The region can offer you a diagnostic examination, investigation or treatment within the period of 30 days
  • The right to a quick investigation and your options to use the extended free choice of hospital
  • Waiting times for treatment at the hospitals in your region of residence and other regions


If you wish to be operated on through the extended free choice of hospital at Charlottenlund Private Hospital, you simply need to contact the patient supervisor at the hospital that has summoned you. The patient advisor 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.