What to do in an emergency

Do you have a medical emergency? If in doubt, call the emergency number 112 to get immediate medical help!

If you're not quite sure, but it could be urgent: you can visit one of the on-call medical practices outside of my office hours (link here). If you are actually bedridden (bad weather and/or no car don't count :-)), you can (with a corresponding waiting time) request a home visit from the on-call doctor by calling 116 117.

Or read on here, because at the end of the tldnr there's a bonus for real fans ;-)

Its quite simple actually, but please remember: even if you've endured back pain for 3 months now (told no one, "it'll be fine") and it's now getting worse and you can't stand it ANYMORE - if you call 112, you usually won't get a doctor, but paramedics instead. They are primarily (very well) trained to transport critically ill patients alive to the hospital (hence the large ambulance with the stretcher - for transportation). In the case of seriously ill and injured patients, the non-medical paramedics are additionally cared for by an emergency doctor (who they can also call in at any time). However, the presence of the emergency doctor does not change the general principle: get to the hospital quickly, no extensive diagnostics, no loss of time.

If you have already "survived" with complaints for a longer period of time, you usually have a good chance of continuing to live until tomorrow morning. Then, even if it's out of concern, calling the emergency number 112 has the following consequences: 1) Waiting time for other 112 callers is extended, 2) Travel time for other emergency patients is extended (because an ambulance is now driving to you first). 3) In addition to the offer to take you to the emergency room (where you may wait several hours, only to be sent to your family doctor the next day), the colleagues of the rescue service will only have limited options to help you. If necessary, the on-call medical service will also be alerted by the rescue service to provide further care for you if the rescue service has to rush to the next patient with flashing lights.

The on-call medical service can prescribe medication for you (which you have to get yourself from the emergency pharmacy) and, if necessary, inject and/or infuse medication. You can't really expect extensive diagnostics here either (many colleagues in the on-call service can't bring an ECG, ultrasound and acute lab to your living room in the short time available and with limited resources...).

If in doubt, it is better to make an appointment in the practice sooner rather than later (preferably online), and in acute cases (not always) simply come to my practice (or any other).

And if all else fails: call me on my mobile at 0173 / 38 47 445. You won't bother me; if I'm not available, the mailbox will answer. If I pick up, it's out of my own free will. If you don't have an emergency, then just don't call.