Rigshospitalet - Copenhagen University Hospital

The first hospital in Denmark was inaugurated in 1757 by King Frederik V (1723-1766 – ruled Denmark and Norway 1746-1766) on his birthday and named The Royal King Frederik’s Hospital – designed by the King’s leading court architect Nicolai Eigtved. The Hospital was located on Bredgade (Broad Street) in inner Copenhagen and the rococo mansion was a part of the many fashionable properties around King Frederik V’s prominent Frederiksstad district from 1750, with the Amalienborg Palace as the centre point. The Royal Frederik’s Hospital was also the first hospital in Denmark with free treatment and care to sick persons without means - and nearly two thirds of the patients were treated without any charges. Since 1926, the former hospital building is currently housing the Danish Museum of Decorative Art.

The Royal King Frederik Hospital from 1757 was the first hospital with free treatment in Denmark and was later replaced by the Rigshopitalet - University Hospital. Photo from 1878.

Many patients in the 1800s and 1900s were treated without any charges at Frederik's Hospital, as the main population was poor and unemployed. Painting from the hospital ward in 1888.

Frederik's Hospital and Rigshospitalet
The Royal Frederiks Hospital was closed in 1910 and the foundation of Rigshospitalet was a reality the same year. The hospital was placed outside of the city in the Østerbro district for further expansion in mind and the properties was built as a modern hospital complex for all commoners – rich or poor - with all the facilities for patient treatment and care. In 1970 a new 16 floor hospital expansion was taken into use by Rigshospitalet and Copenhagen University Hospital with numerous speciality units for individual and special patient training and health care in close co-operation with the entire Danish hospital system.

Together with 7.000 dedicating employees including caring doctors, midwifes and nursing personal, the hospital trains, hosts and have the in-service advantages of students of medicine and other health care sciences as well as scientists working within Rigshospitalet under a variety of research funding. The Copenhagen University Hospital prioritises the following areas of research - neuropsychiatry, cancer, immunology, transplantation, reproduction and others.

The "new" Rigshospitalet replaced The Royal Frederik's Hospital and was inaugurated in 1910, with modern hospital facilities located around the Østerbro Quarters and Fælledparken. The location was outside of the city centre in green and space full surroundings. Photo of Rigshospitalet in 1915.

The 16 story high hospital complex from 1970 houses Rigshospitalet as well as Copenhagen University Hospital and has since 1995 been an integrated part of the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation. The premises are situated beside the old hospital buildings from 1910.

The Largest hospital in Denmark
With more than 1.100 beds, Rigshospitalet is the largest hospital in Denmark and has responsibility for 65.000 yearly inpatients and approximately 420.000 ambulant visits annually.

Since 1995, Rigshospitalet has been an integrated part of the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation and is responsible for all functions and services within the hospital and health care system for the entire country.

250 years of Public service and health care
As Rigshospitalet has served its community for almost 250 years with admirable medical – nursing and allied health care across the country, the hospital will celebrate its official 250th anniversary on Marts 30th, 2007. Denmark has a reputation of having one of the best health care systems in the world.

Casualty Wards in Copenhagen
Rigshospitalet has no casualty ward but there are many other hospitals in and around Copenhagen that offer these facilities and services. Here are some of the major hospitals
in Copenhagen with casulalty wards.

Bisbebjerg Hospital - Phone: 35 31 35 31
Frederiksberg Hospital - Phone: 38 16 38 16
Hvidovre Hospital - Phone: 36 32 36 32
Amager Hospital - Phone: 32 34 32 34
Amtssygehuset i Gentofte - Phone: 39 77 39 77
Amtssygehuset i Glostrup - Phone: 43 23 23 00
Amtssygehuset i Herlev - Phone: 44 88 44 88

Emergency number in Denmark is 112

Location
Rigshospitalet is located on the other side of the Lakes at the Østerbo district and next to the National Stadium Parken - Zoological Museum and the grand public park named "Fælledparken". Many faculties of Copenhagen’s University are placed in and around the so called University Park. Among them - Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy Physics and Geophysics - The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences - August Krogh Institute - The Faculty of Health Sciences (Panum Institut) etc.

Rigshospitalet - Copenhagen University Hospital Address Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø Phone: 3545 3545 Busses: 42 - 43 - 184 - 185 - 3A - 6A - 173E - 150S - 865

Free hospital treatment
As a bonus visiting Denmark - all foreigners from all nations are entitled to free hospital treatment or use of casualty wards if an unexpected sickness or accident should occur during a temporary stay in Denmark. The patient's home transport is covered by the treated person.

Public health insurance
Persons visiting Denmark for a temporary period are covered by the Danish public health insurance system in accordance to agreements between Denmark and the visitor's home country.
Check all the details at home before travelling to Denmark.