Most people rarely think about their GP – until something feels off. But how do you tell whether it was just a bad day, or whether it's genuinely time to find a new doctor? Here are seven clear signs to look for, plus a few questions to ask yourself before you decide.
In Norway, your GP is called your fastlege – the one regular doctor assigned to you who handles everyday medical needs, referrals and prescriptions. Changing fastlege is common: over 800,000 changes were made in 2024, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Not every change is well thought through, though. Use the list below as a check – the more points you recognise, the stronger the case for considering a move.
1. You rarely get an appointment when you need one
One of the clearest signs is poor availability. Do you wait weeks for a non-urgent appointment, or get told to "call again tomorrow morning" over and over? A good GP should have the capacity to assess you within a reasonable time. Persistent long waits – not just during one busy week – are a legitimate reason to look around.
2. It's nearly impossible to get through by phone
Are you stuck in a phone queue for 20–30 minutes every time, or never get an answer at all? Being reachable by phone and digital channels is part of what a GP practice is expected to deliver. If the office is consistently hard to reach, it costs you when something is urgent.
3. You don't feel heard in the consultation
This sounds soft, but it's medically relevant. Research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's patient survey PASOPP shows that patients who experience good communication with their GP have better treatment adherence and better health outcomes over time. If your conversations consistently feel rushed, dismissive or misunderstood, that's a real reason to consider a change.
4. You've lost trust after a misjudgement
Any doctor can get something wrong – what matters is what happens next. Was your concern taken seriously, or brushed aside? If you've lost confidence that your GP catches what's important, and an open conversation hasn't repaired it, it may be time to find someone you trust more.
5. Your GP is leaving or shrinking their list
This is the one sign you don't control yourself. When a GP retires, relocates or cuts their patient list, you often end up with a locum and no continuity. In such cases Helfo usually grants you an extra change on top of the two you already have each year – a good moment to choose a doctor you actually want.
6. You've moved – and your old GP is now inconvenient
If you've moved to Drammen, or within the municipality, you keep the right to your old fastlege, but the distance makes follow-up awkward. For many people, moving is the natural moment to find a doctor closer to home. If you've just arrived, see our guide New to Drammen? How to find a GP.
7. Your needs have changed
Life changes, and health needs follow. Have you developed a new chronic condition, become pregnant, or entered a life stage that calls for closer follow-up? Then it can be valuable to have a GP and a practice that fit your situation now better than they did five years ago.
1. Have I raised the issue directly with my GP? 2. Is the problem structural (availability, phone, waiting time) or personal (communication, trust)? 3. Have I realistically checked which GPs near me have open lists?
But remember: continuity has real value
Before switching out of frustration, it's worth knowing that having the same doctor over time is actually good for your health. Research shared via the Norwegian Research Fund for General Practice shows that patients who lose continuity with their GP visit both their GP and hospitals more often in the years that follow. That doesn't mean you should stay with a doctor who isn't working for you – only that you should change with intention, not in the heat of the moment.
How to change – in three minutes
Once you've decided, the change itself is simple. You log in with BankID at Helsenorge.no, see which doctors in your area have open lists, and choose the one you want. You can change twice per calendar year without giving a reason, and the change takes effect from the 1st of the following month. One tip for 2026: as of May 2025, only around 20 percent of GP lists were open, according to the Directorate of Health – so it pays to act quickly when a doctor you like has space. For a full step-by-step guide, see Changing GP in Drammen – step by step.
Recognised several of these?
Hotvet legesenter opens at Rosenkrantzgata 75, in the centre of Drammen. Our six GPs have places available on their lists right now, and several of them speak English.
See available GP places