Which doctor is open today in Hamburg depends on the day and time: on weekdays roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the GP practices, in the evenings and at weekends the statutory on-call clinics reached via 116 117, around the clock the emergency number 112 for life-threatening cases, and anywhere in Hamburg daily from 6 a.m. to midnight the private house-call service RAB Arztbesuche with a typical arrival time of 60 to 90 minutes. This guide sorts the options for falling ill outside office hours: which practices open on Saturdays and Sundays, how to find today's open on-call clinic via 116 117, where these clinics are located, which specialist emergency services are responsible, what waiting times to expect, and when a house call is the calmer choice.
Are Any Doctors' Practices Open at the Weekend in Hamburg?
Most GP practices in Hamburg are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays; only a few practices offer limited Saturday hours, which remains the exception. Anyone who cannot reach a practice on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. or falls acutely ill at the weekend depends on the on-call structures that fill exactly this gap. For acute but non-life-threatening complaints such as febrile infections, a urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal complaints, or severe cold symptoms, the statutory on-call service via 116 117 or a private house-call service provides care outside office hours.
Which Service Is Open When in Hamburg
Which service is open depends on the time and the urgency; four points of contact together cover 24 hours in Hamburg:
- GP practices: weekdays roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., generally closed at the weekend.
- Statutory on-call service (116 117): reachable around the clock, refers you to the currently open on-call clinic or arranges a home visit.
- Emergency number 112: at any time for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack, stroke, or severe shortness of breath.
- Private house call (RAB Arztbesuche): daily 6 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year, with an arrival time of 60 to 90 minutes anywhere in Hamburg.
Daily Schedule: Who Is Open When in Hamburg
As a quick orientation, the table shows which point of contact is staffed at which time; in case of danger to life, the emergency number 112 applies around the clock regardless.
| Time window | Weekday | Weekend and public holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 8 a.m. | RAB house call (from 6 a.m.), 116 117 by phone | RAB house call, 116 117 by phone |
| 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | GP practices, RAB house call | on-call clinics (roughly 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.), RAB house call |
| 6 to 9 p.m. | on-call clinics, RAB house call | on-call clinics, RAB house call |
| 9 p.m. to midnight | RAB house call, 116 117 by phone | RAB house call, 116 117 by phone |
| midnight to 6 a.m. | 116 117 (arranges care if needed), emergency department | 116 117, emergency department |
116 117: Which Clinic Is Open Today in Hamburg
Which on-call clinic is open today you can find out in Hamburg via the nationwide uniform number 116 117 or online at 116117.de. The call is free, the call centre is staffed around the clock, and it names the nearest open on-call clinic or, where transportability is verifiably lacking, arranges a home visit by the mobile service of KV Hamburg. The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg operates on-call clinics at several hospital sites, so that a point of contact lies within reach in every part of the city. Because locations and hours can change, the up-to-date information via 116 117 is the most reliable way to find the clinic open today.
Where the On-Call Clinics in Hamburg Are Located
The statutory on-call clinics for adults in Hamburg are mostly attached to large hospitals and distributed across the city. These include, among others:
- Eppendorf: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
- Altona: Asklepios Klinik Altona
- Wandsbek: Asklepios Klinik Wandsbek
- Farmsen: Farmsen on-call clinic
- Harburg: Asklepios Klinikum Harburg
- Hamburg-Mitte: Asklepios Klinik St. Georg
For children and adolescents there are dedicated paediatric on-call clinics, for example at AK Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift, Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus (AKK), and the UKE. The addresses and opening hours of the currently open clinics are published by KV Hamburg via 116 117 or at 116117.de.
Opening Hours: When the On-Call Clinics Are Open Today
The on-call clinics are not open around the clock but are staffed specifically during the hours when practices are closed. On working days they generally open in the early evening, when the GP practices close around 6 p.m.; on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays they are staffed all day, typically from around 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. During the night hours between about midnight and the early morning there is no regular clinic operation; in this window 116 117 remains reachable and can arrange a home visit if medically necessary or refer to a hospital.
A Doctor Without an Appointment at the Weekend in Hamburg
At the on-call clinic you are treated without prior registration: you arrive during opening hours, register at reception, and present your health insurance card. It is sensible to bring a list of the medications you take and any available test results. Because Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, and the cold season between October and March are the periods of highest demand, waiting times of one to several hours are not unusual; urgent cases are prioritised by triage. For statutory health insurance patients no additional treatment costs arise, billing runs through the health insurance, and only the standard copayments, such as for medications, remain.
When the Way to a Practice Is Too Burdensome: The House Call
If a wait of several hours is incompatible with the symptoms, if a sick person is poorly transportable, or if care at home is preferred, a private medical house call is the plannable alternative. RAB Arztbesuche comes anywhere in Hamburg daily from 6 a.m. to midnight to the home, the hotel, or the holiday flat, with a typical arrival time of 60 to 90 minutes, without a waiting room and without the infection risk of a full waiting area. The examination takes place in familiar surroundings; prescriptions and a certificate of incapacity for work are issued directly on site if medically indicated. This option is frequently chosen for acute complaints at the weekend, for acutely ill children, or when English-speaking care is needed in districts such as Eppendorf, Winterhude, or HafenCity.
When 112 Applies Instead of an Open Practice
The emergency number 112 is always the correct choice if a condition is potentially life-threatening, acutely and dangerously deteriorates, or involves a severe injury. This includes signs of a heart attack or stroke such as sudden one-sided paralysis or speech impairment, severe shortness of breath, unconsciousness, strong uncontrollable bleeding, and severe allergic reactions. In these cases neither the question of which practice is open today nor a house call is appropriate; then every minute counts and only the ambulance service via 112 applies. For everything that requires acute treatment but is not life-threatening, the on-call clinic, 116 117, or the house call are the appropriate routes.
Specialist Emergency Services in Hamburg
Not every acute case belongs to the general on-call medical service; teeth, eyes, ENT, children, and medicines have their own emergency services in Hamburg. For acute toothache, abscesses, or bleeding after a procedure, the dental emergency service of the Kassenzahnärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg (KZV Hamburg) is responsible. Sudden vision problems, flashes of light, or eye pain belong in the eye emergency department, for example at the UKE, immediately if retinal detachment is suspected. For children, alongside the on-call service the paediatric on-call clinics at Wilhelmstift, Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus, and the UKE are available. The nearest emergency pharmacy can be found via the Apothekerkammer Hamburg or the nationwide pharmacy search.
Costs: Statutory Versus Private
For statutory health insurance patients, using the on-call medical service typically incurs no direct costs; the standard copayments, such as for medications, remain. A private medical house call is billed according to the physician fee schedule (GOÄ) and usually ranges between 150 and 300 euros depending on time of day and scope of examination. Privately insured patients and those eligible for government contributions have the costs reimbursed according to their tariff, while self-payers and statutory patients with supplementary insurance bear them directly. The billing details are explained on the Costs page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Which Doctor Is Open Today in Hamburg?
Which doctor is open on Sundays in Hamburg?
On Sundays the GP practices in Hamburg are closed; the statutory on-call clinics are open, referred via 116 117 and typically staffed from around 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Alternatively, the private house-call service RAB comes daily from 6 a.m. to midnight within 60 to 90 minutes. In case of danger to life, the emergency number 112 applies.
How do I find a practice open today in Hamburg?
Call the free, around-the-clock 116 117 or use 116117.de; the call centre names the nearest currently open on-call clinic. Because locations and hours change, this up-to-date information is more reliable than an online search for individual practices.
Are there GP practices open on Saturdays in Hamburg?
Only a few GP practices offer limited Saturday hours, which remains the exception. For acute complaints on Saturday, the on-call clinics referred via 116 117 or a house call are the more reliable routes, especially on the high-demand Saturday morning.
What does a doctor cost at the weekend in Hamburg?
For statutory health insurance patients, the on-call medical service is generally without direct costs, apart from the usual copayments. A private medical house call is billed according to the GOÄ and usually ranges between 150 and 300 euros, reimbursed by PKV and government contribution schemes depending on the tariff.
Do I get a sick note at the weekend?
Yes, both the on-call clinic and a medical house call can issue a certificate of incapacity for work and prescriptions if medically indicated. During a house call by RAB this happens directly on site within the arrival time of 60 to 90 minutes.
When on-call clinic, when emergency department?
For acute but non-life-threatening complaints, the on-call clinic or the house call is the appropriate point of contact; the hospital emergency department, for example at the UKE or the Marienkrankenhaus, is intended for severe or potentially life-threatening cases. If a heart attack, stroke, or accident is suspected, only the ambulance service via 112 applies.
Factual Note on Use
For a private medical assessment with a house call, RAB Arztbesuche is available anywhere in Hamburg daily from 6 a.m. to midnight at 040 524 729 688. The typical arrival time is 60 to 90 minutes; prescriptions and certificates of incapacity for work are issued on site if medically indicated. Online appointment booking can be found at Online booking. In case of signs of acute danger to life, only the ambulance service via the emergency number 112 remains the appropriate contact.