If you sprain your ankle or suddenly develop a fever during the Christmas holidays, there is a number you can call in Finland for help.
"Call the Medical Helpline number 116117 before going to the clinic," the state-owned digital services provider DigiFinland advises.
All calls to the number are answered by a healthcare professional who will assess the need for care. The helpline will also provide information on where the nearest emergency service is located, if urgent care is needed.
"If self-care is sufficient for your situation, you will receive reliable self-care instructions conveniently while sitting on your own couch," the service's website explains.
The service aims to prevent health centres or emergency units from becoming overloaded with patients.
However, if the situation is more urgent or acute, people should always call the emergency number 112.
The 116117 helpline is free, but calls from an international cell phone may be subject to a fee.
The service is provided by Finland's network of wellbeing service counties as well as by the City of Helsinki, and receives about two million calls annually.
