The purpose of this study was to describe the evaluations of health care professionals from four different departments at the Oulu University hospital on their actions in promoting the health of patients. In addition, the aim was to investigate their opinions and experiences in health promoting, the methods used for it and the needs for future development. The study was carried out in the same manner as a report done at the Pirkanmaa health care district. The purpose of the study was to obtain information on the present status of health promotion at the Oulu University hospital. The report is also intended to support the work of the health promotion work group at the unit of basic health care. The questions of the study were related to alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, depression and family support. The knowledge basis part of the work consists the history, background, concepts and law of health promotion. The knowledge basis contains also evaluation of health promotion from the societal perspective. The study is a quantitative survey where webropol application was used for material acquisition. The response rate of the survey was 23 % (N=4276), meaning that the results are directional. The results show that the personnel working at hospitals need to promote health and in order to succeed; the personnel require more resources and supplemental education. The development idea of the study was to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the present health promotion practices. Improvements in these areas can then provide higher quality and more efficient methods for promoting health in special health care. The present study could be followed by a survey of the experiences, opinions and expectations on health promotion of patients and their relatives undergoing special health care.