Helseekspressen

Please meet at 07:10 at the main entrance of Haugesund Hospital.

Passengers may stay on board the bus during the ferry crossing.

Passengers may stay on board the bus during the ferry crossing.

Telephone: 05515

Telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 08:00–15:30

Email: pasientreiser@helse-fonna.no

Important: Please do not send sensitive information (such as appointment letters) by email.

Postal address

Helse Fonna HF
Pasientreiser
P.O. Box 2170
5504 Haugesund

• Three stretchers
• 20 seats in the front section of the bus and one extra‑comfortable seat
• Lift
• Accessible toilet
• Adjustable seats
• Medical equipment and medication on board
• Defibrillator
• Medical monitoring equipment
• Space for wheelchairs
• Hot and cold drinks
• Wireless internet (Wi‑Fi)

The bus is fitted with specially designed shock absorbers to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride for patients, even on uneven roads.

Helseekspressen is available when travelling to treatment or examinations at healthcare institutions and specialists with agreements with Helse Vest RHF.

The service is offered to residents within the Helse Fonna hospital area.

The bus follows a fixed express route. Patients are transported to and from the bus stops by taxi or private car when required.

With a doctor's referral

If you need specially adapted transport, please contact your healthcare provider at the hospital, who must issue a referral.

Without a doctor's referral

If you do not have a referral, you can book your journey through Patient Travel Services by calling 05515.

For ongoing treatment, multiple journeys can be booked at the same time.

All journeys to Haukeland University Hospital must be booked no later than the previous working day at 13:00.

During periods of high demand, booking for patients without a referral may close earlier.

If you are travelling to and from Haukeland on the same day, you will be offered a seat on Helseekspressen in both directions. This also applies to patients without a referral.

Patients returning from Haukeland without a referral may:

• Contact Patient Travel Services at 05515, or
• Enquire in the waiting area at Haukeland University Hospital.

Patients can be placed on a waiting list and may travel with Helseekspressen if seats are available, usually from around 13:30.

If you are admitted to hospital or arrive too late for departure from Haukeland, standard rules for arranging patient transport apply.

With a doctor's referral

If you have a referral for same‑day return travel but are not ready when Helseekspressen departs, please inform Patient Travel Services at 05515. Standard transport arrangements will then apply.

Without a doctor's referral

If you miss the return departure, you must travel home using Kystbussen.

Patients booked for same‑day return travel who are not ready when Helseekspressen departs must notify Patient Travel Services immediately by calling 05515.

Patients without a referral must return using Kystbussen.

The need for a companion must be medically assessed and approved by the treating clinician as necessary for the journey.

Patients without a referral who wish to travel with a companion must use Kystbussen together.

Alternatively, the patient may travel with Helseekspressen while the companion takes Kystbussen and meets the patient at Haukeland.

Kystbussen runs parallel to the Helseekspressen route.

All passengers must pay a standard patient travel co‑payment, according to the current annual rates.

Holders of an exemption card (frikort), companions, and children under 16 years of age are exempt from the co‑payment.

More information: User fees and rates for patient travel in Norway - Helsenorge

The bus offers comfortable seating and access to hot and cold drinks. Staff are available on board to assist patients, including arranging onward taxi transport from the bus stop or ordering a hospital porter to meet the patient upon arrival at Haukeland.

If, for example, a patient experiences chest pain during the journey, a nurse can perform an ECG and transmit the data directly to cardiac monitoring services for assessment.

Helseekspressen is also more affordable than Kystbussen, and there is no need to submit travel expense claims afterwards.