The medical on-call service in Hamburg (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) is the statutory out-of-hours care system, reachable anywhere in Hamburg around the clock on the nationwide number 116 117, that covers acute but non-life-threatening complaints. It bridges the gap between your family doctor's practice and the hospital emergency room, in the evening, at night, on weekends and on public holidays. This guide explains when the on-call service is responsible, how the process works in Hamburg, what waiting times and costs to expect, and how the statutory service differs from a private on-call service.
112, 116 117 or a private doctor: Hamburg's tiered care system
Hamburg runs a clearly tiered care system with three levels, organised by urgency. The emergency number 112 is reserved for life-threatening emergencies such as shortness of breath, unconsciousness, severe chest pain (suspected heart attack) or stroke symptoms, where every minute counts and the rescue service arrives within minutes. The number 116 117 is the statutory on-call service for acute but stable complaints outside office hours. The private on-call service from RAB Hamburg complements this structure as a third level, with house visits typically within 60 to 90 minutes, daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.
When is the medical on-call service responsible?
The on-call service is the right choice whenever an acute illness should be assessed by a doctor but there is no immediate danger to life. Typical reasons include high fever (around 39 °C or more), strong cold or flu symptoms, acute gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections, tonsillitis or cystitis, acute back or head pain without neurological deficits, and the worsening of chronic conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart failure or diabetes. A typical scenario: Friday evening, 9 p.m., 39 °C fever and a severe sore throat but no breathing difficulty, this belongs with the on-call service, not the emergency room.
The On-Call Doctor in Hamburg: Who Actually Comes?
An on-call doctor (Bereitschaftsarzt) is a physician on duty outside regular consultation hours: either a practice-based doctor working the statutory KV rota (reached via 116 117) or a private physician in an on-call model such as RAB Arztbesuche. Both terms describe the same system; the differences lie in who runs it, the waiting time, and the billing (EBM via the statutory insurer or GOÄ as a private service).
Looking for an on-call doctor in your district? RAB operates in all 7 Hamburg districts, from Altona via Hamburg-Mitte and Eimsbüttel to Wandsbek.
When must you call 112?
Call 112 immediately, regardless of the time or day, at any sign of a life-threatening situation. This includes acute shortness of breath, unconsciousness, severe or persistent chest pain, sudden paralysis or speech disturbance (suspected stroke), serious injuries with heavy bleeding, seizures, severe allergic shock reactions and poisoning. In these cases, no time may be lost on phone advice, a trip to a practice or trying to reach a private service. A private on-call service never replaces the rescue service.
Emergency room or on-call service: what's the difference?
The emergency room is intended for severe and potentially life-threatening conditions, while the on-call service handles most acute but stable complaints. Anyone who drives straight to the ER with a cold, fever or a stomach bug often waits for hours, because life-threatening cases take priority under the principle of triage. Assessing your symptoms correctly not only relieves Hamburg's hospital emergency rooms such as the UKE, Asklepios and Marienkrankenhaus but also shortens your own waiting time.
How the on-call service works: step by step
After you call 116 117, medically trained staff of the Hamburg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV Hamburg) answer and carry out a structured initial assessment (triage). Have your name, address, phone number, age, current symptoms, pre-existing conditions and medication ready. Depending on symptoms and urgency, one of three options follows: medical advice by phone, a visit to an on-call practice, or, if you cannot leave home, a house visit by the mobile service. Afterwards the doctor can issue a sick note, prescriptions or referrals.
On-call practice or house visit?
Care is provided either at an out-of-hours practice or, where medically indicated, as a house visit. Hamburg's KV on-call practices are usually located at or near hospitals, for example in Altona, Farmsen, Wandsbek, Harburg and Eppendorf, are open without an appointment and on weekends often run roughly from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., so bring your insurance card. A house visit is especially useful for limited mobility, high fever, a strong feeling of illness, the care of small children, or for elderly and care-dependent people. KV Hamburg organises the mobile house-visit service via 116 117; for sick children, specialised paediatric emergency practices such as the AK Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift and the Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus are also available.
How long are waiting times for the on-call service in Hamburg?
For the statutory house-visit service in Hamburg you should realistically expect waiting times of around one to four hours, depending on the time of day, the day of the week, demand and urgency. Peak times are Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings, when many practices are closed and only limited medical staff are available. These waits are not a sign of poor organisation but the result of deliberate prioritisation by medical urgency, comparable to triage in the emergency room. The private on-call service from RAB Hamburg reduces this window to typically 60 to 90 minutes.
Statutory versus private on-call service: a comparison
Both routes cover acute, non-life-threatening complaints, but differ in the form of care, waiting time and billing. The statutory service (116 117) is intended for all people with statutory health insurance, is free of charge and staffed around the clock, but cannot promise a specific doctor or a fixed arrival time. The private on-call service from RAB Hamburg is independently organised, comes as a house visit to your home, hotel or office, and is aimed at privately insured patients, self-payers and international guests and expats. With the private service the house visit is the standard offering, not an exception that has to be justified.
- Availability: 116 117 around the clock and free of charge; RAB Hamburg daily 6 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year, on 040 524 729 688.
- Waiting time: statutory house visit often one to four hours; private house visit typically 60–90 minutes.
- Contact: 116 117 with a partly automated voice system; RAB with no call centre, direct contact with medical staff.
- Services: the statutory service offers a basic examination, prescriptions and sick notes; the private service additionally provides ECG, ultrasound, laboratory tests, infusions, pain therapy and, on request, English-language care.
What does the private on-call service cost?
The private on-call service bills according to the official German scale of fees for physicians (GOÄ); a house visit usually costs between roughly 150 and 300 euros, depending on the time, the day of the week and the scope of care. Evening, night and weekend surcharges are defined within the GOÄ and are transparently traceable, with daytime appointments cheaper than night or weekend visits. Privately insured patients and those entitled to civil-servant aid (Beihilfe) are generally reimbursed in full by their insurer or aid office, as the scope of care matches their tariff terms. Self-payers receive a transparent invoice and pay in cash or by debit or credit card; on request the invoice is also issued in English.
Decision Guide: Which Route for Which Complaints
The following overview matches typical situations to the right point of contact. It does not replace a medical assessment but helps with initial orientation in Hamburg. It is based on the three care levels of rescue service (112), statutory on-call service (116 117) and private house-call service, plus the question of whether you can leave your home.
| Situation | Right point of contact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shortness of breath, chest pain, paralysis, unconsciousness | Emergency number 112 | suspected danger to life, rescue service within minutes |
| 39 °C fever, flu symptoms, stable condition | 116 117 | acute but not life-threatening; free for those with statutory insurance |
| Bedridden, caring for children, no way to reach a practice | 116 117 (house visit) or RAB | the mobile service comes by urgency, the private visit within 60–90 minutes |
| Rapid care with ECG, infusion or laboratory tests at home | RAB (+49 40 524 729 688) | extended diagnostics during the private house call, daily 6 a.m. to midnight |
| Child with fever or earache in the evening | paediatric emergency practices such as Wilhelmstift and AKK, or RAB | child-appropriate care; for breathing difficulty or reduced consciousness call 112 immediately |
| Mild complaints, unchanged for days | your GP practice on the next working day | no acute need for action, best continuity of care |
If in doubt: where there may be danger to life, call 112 immediately; in all other unclear cases the trained staff on 116 117 triage the call and involve the rescue service when needed.
Frequently asked questions about the on-call service in Hamburg
Which phone number is the medical on-call service in Hamburg?
The nationwide number for the statutory on-call service is 116 117 and applies in Hamburg too, it is reachable around the clock and free of charge, with no area code needed. Hamburg's mobile KV house-visit service is likewise organised via 116 117. The private on-call service from RAB Hamburg is available daily from 6 a.m. to midnight on 040 524 729 688. In any life-threatening situation, call 112 only.
Is the on-call service free of charge?
The statutory on-call service via 116 117 is free for people with statutory health insurance, because the health fund covers the cost, including house visits. A private on-call service, by contrast, bills according to the GOÄ: privately insured patients submit the invoice to their insurer and usually pay no surcharge, while people with statutory insurance use the private service as self-payers. Reimbursement of private visits by the statutory health fund is generally not provided.
Can the on-call service issue a sick note and prescriptions?
Yes, where medically indicated, the on-call doctor issues prescriptions as well as a certificate of incapacity for work (sick note). The licensed physicians can issue private prescriptions, therapy and aid prescriptions, referrals and both initial and follow-up sick notes on the spot; the electronic sick note (eAU) is sent directly to your health fund on request. However, you should not use the on-call service solely to obtain a certificate that could wait until regular practice hours.
Is the on-call service also responsible for children?
Yes, the on-call service treats both adults and children, and in Hamburg specialised paediatric emergency practices such as the AK Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift and the Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus (AKK) are available in the evenings and at weekends. Typical reasons for children are fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, earache or unexplained rashes. In any life-threatening situation, such as severe breathing difficulty or reduced consciousness, call 112 only, for children as well. Full guide: pediatric out-of-hours care in Hamburg.
Is English spoken at the private service?
Yes, both the phone team and most of the doctors at RAB Hamburg speak fluent English, and on request the diagnosis, treatment plan, prescriptions and invoice are also issued in English. This greatly simplifies reimbursement through foreign travel and health insurers for international families, business travellers and hotel guests. Please state your language preference when booking so you can be matched with a suitable doctor. More: English-speaking doctor in Hamburg.
What is the difference between an on-call doctor and an emergency doctor?
The on-call doctor treats urgent but non-life-threatening complaints outside consultation hours, via 116 117 or privately such as with RAB Arztbesuche; the emergency guide explains the distinction. The emergency doctor responds via 112 exclusively to life-threatening situations such as chest pain, shortness of breath or unconsciousness. When in doubt, always call 112.
Is there an on-call doctor near me?
Yes. The KV on-call practices are spread across the whole city, and 116 117 names the nearest one. RAB's private house call reaches all 7 Hamburg districts within 60–90 minutes, from Altona to Wandsbek, daily from 6 am to midnight.