The statutory on-call medical service in Hamburg is the outpatient care organised by the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg for statutory health insurance patients with acute but non-life-threatening conditions, available anywhere in Hamburg under the nationwide uniform number 116 117 and reachable around the clock. This guide consolidates what is available in Hamburg outside office hours: how 116 117 works, where the urgent care and on-call clinics are located, when they are open, what to bring, what is done on site, what waiting times to expect, and when a private medical house call is the more sensible choice.
Urgent care in Hamburg: how the German system works
Germany has no walk-in urgent-care chains like the US or the UK; the equivalents in Hamburg are the 116 117 on-call clinics (statutory, free of charge, with waiting times) and private house-call services such as RAB Arztbesuche, which reaches you within 60–90 minutes daily from 6 am to midnight and bills under the GOÄ fee schedule.
The Statutory On-Call Service (116 117): Who Runs It and What It Covers
The statutory on-call service, officially the medical on-call service of the KV Hamburg, is reachable nationwide on 116 117 and free of charge for statutory patients. RAB Arztbesuche is not the KV service but a private house-call service billed under the GOÄ, operating daily from 6 am to midnight as a no-wait alternative.
The on-call medical service provides outpatient medical care for statutory health insurance patients outside regular office hours, when normal practices are closed. Organisation and provision are the responsibility of the Regional Medical Associations of each state; in Hamburg this is the KV Hamburg. The service must be clearly distinguished from emergency medical services with ambulance and emergency physician: those are reached via the emergency number 112 and are intended for life-threatening conditions such as heart attack, stroke, severe shortness of breath, or uncontrollable bleeding. Calling 116 117 is free for callers, and the call centre is staffed 24 hours a day.
When 116 117 Is Responsible, and When 112 Is
The number 112 is always the correct choice if a condition is potentially life-threatening, acutely and dangerously deteriorates, or involves a severe injury. The number 116 117 applies when an illness requires acute treatment but is not life-threatening and would normally be treated by a general practitioner or specialist whose practice is currently closed. This includes febrile infections, uncomplicated gastrointestinal complaints, acute urinary tract infections, earache, non-threatening pain, or the extension of an urgently needed prescription. In life-threatening situations, neither the on-call clinic nor a private medical service is responsible, only the ambulance service via 112.
How a Call to 116 117 Proceeds
After the call, the degree of urgency is determined in a telephone-based medical preliminary assessment. Depending on the case, telephone medical advice may be provided, referral to an on-call clinic may be offered, or a home visit may be organised; if signs of a life-threatening situation are indicated, the ambulance service is activated. It is important that the assessment is made via the telephone service and not by the caller themselves, an honest description of symptoms helps to find the appropriate form of care. A statutory home visit is arranged only when the patient is verifiably not transportable; anyone able to attend the clinic is generally referred there.
What an On-Call Clinic Is
An on-call clinic (also called an urgent care clinic, emergency practice, or walk-in clinic) is a medical practice open in the evenings, at weekends, and on public holidays to treat acute patients without an appointment on an outpatient basis. In Hamburg, these clinics coordinated by KV Hamburg are mostly located on the grounds of larger hospitals but operate independently of the hospital emergency department. They are equipped like normal practices, with treatment rooms, a waiting area, reception, and general medical equipment. They are intended to absorb patients who would otherwise go to hospital even though treatment is possible on an outpatient basis, for a non-emergency you are usually better placed there than waiting for hours among serious cases in a crowded emergency department.
Where the On-Call Clinics in Hamburg Are Located
In Hamburg the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg operates several on-call clinics for adults, most located on the grounds of large hospitals and distributed across the city. These include, among others:
- Eppendorf (Hamburg-Nord): on-call clinic at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
- Altona: on-call clinic at Asklepios Klinik Altona
- Wandsbek: on-call clinic at Asklepios Klinik Wandsbek
- Harburg: on-call clinic at Asklepios Klinik Harburg
- Farmsen (Wandsbek district): Farmsen on-call clinic
For children and adolescents there are separate paediatric facilities, for example at AK Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift in Rahlstedt (Wandsbek district), Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus (AKK) in Altona, and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) in Eppendorf. Locations and opening hours can change; the up-to-date list of open clinics is published by KV Hamburg via 116 117 or at 116117.de.
Opening Hours of the On-Call Clinics
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 from the early evening, and on Wednesdays and Fridays already from the early afternoon, when many regular practices close. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays they are open all day, typically from around 9 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. During the night hours between midnight and 8 a.m. no clinic operation is provided; in this period 116 117 remains reachable and can arrange a home visit if medically necessary or refer to a hospital in an emergency.
Without an Appointment: Procedure and What to Bring
You use the on-call clinic without prior registration: you arrive during opening hours, register at reception, and present your health insurance card. It is also sensible to bring a list of the medications you take and any available test results. You then wait until you are called; if your condition worsens while waiting, inform the staff, who prioritise urgent cases. 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. Anyone accompanying a sick child should plan something to keep the child occupied and a drink for the wait.
What Is Done at the On-Call Clinic
The physicians there can carry out the same general medical examinations and treatments as a regular practice. These include auscultation, throat inspection, blood pressure and blood sugar measurement, small laboratory tests such as a urine quick test, wound care, ECG, and injections. Where needed, medications are administered directly on site, for example fever suppositories for children or inhaled agents. Prescriptions, referrals, and a certificate of incapacity for work can be issued; if the examination reveals a need for further treatment, admission to hospital follows with a physician's letter. The clinics are intended for acute cases, routine check-ups, screenings, vaccinations, or repeat prescriptions belong in the GP practice.
Typical Waiting Times
Waiting times depend heavily on the time: Friday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays are the periods of highest demand, particularly in the winter months with clustered respiratory illnesses and febrile infections. During these phases, waiting times of several hours at the on-call clinics are not the exception. For home visits by the statutory service, deployment is scheduled according to medical urgency, so less urgent cases may wait for hours during off-peak times. This reality is not a criticism of the system but a consequence of a care structure in which relatively few physicians must care for many patients in a short time.
What a private house call costs in Hamburg is broken down transparently on the costs page.
When Waiting Is Not Possible, The Private Medical House Call
In situations where a several-hour wait is incompatible with the symptoms, where a sick person is not easily transportable, or where planned care at home is desired, a private on-call medical service is the structurally superior option. It operates independently of the statutory system exclusively via house call, without a waiting room, without travel, and without the infection risk of a full waiting area. The typical arrival time is 60 to 90 minutes; the examination takes place in familiar surroundings, and prescriptions as well as a certificate of incapacity for work are issued directly on site if medically indicated. This option is most frequently chosen for acute complaints on the weekend, for acutely ill children, or when English-speaking care is needed.
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. For a private medical house call, billing follows the physician fee schedule (GOÄ); the amount depends on time of day, scope of examination, and individual services provided. Privately insured patients have the costs reimbursed according to their individual tariff, those eligible for government contributions submit the bill to their carrier, and self-paying patients as well as statutory patients with supplementary insurance bear or reclaim the costs directly.
Checklist for Calling 116 117
A prepared call shortens the telephone triage and leads to the right care faster. Have the following ready:
- The health insurance card of the person who is ill, the call centre asks for name, date of birth and insurer.
- The complaints with onset and course: since when, measured temperature, and what has been tried so far.
- Pre-existing conditions and the current medication list, including over-the-counter products.
- The full address with floor, doorbell label and any particularities of access.
- A callback number on which you can be reached continuously, as the call centre or the mobile service often announces itself by phone.
Frequently Asked Questions About the On-Call Medical Service in Hamburg
Does calling 116 117 cost anything?
No, calling 116 117 is free for callers and the call centre is staffed around the clock. For statutory health insurance patients, services from the on-call medical service typically involve no additional treatment costs; only the standard copayments apply, such as for medications.
Do I need an appointment for the on-call clinic?
No, the on-call clinic is visited without prior registration. You arrive during opening hours and identify yourself with your health insurance card; a list of medications and any test results are useful. A preliminary telephone assessment via 116 117 helps to find the appropriate clinic that is open.
What is the difference between 112 and 116 117?
112 is the emergency number for life-threatening emergencies with ambulance and emergency physician. 116 117 is the on-call medical service for acute but non-life-threatening complaints outside regular office hours and can refer you to an on-call clinic or a home visit.
Can I get a home visit through 116 117?
Home visits by the statutory service are possible but are prioritised by urgency and generally carried out only when transportability is verifiably lacking; during high demand arrival may be delayed. Those needing a planned, short arrival time may alternatively use a private medical house call, typically within 60 to 90 minutes.
Can I call 116 117 as a private patient?
Yes, 116 117 is generally available to everyone. Privately insured patients and self-payers also have access to a private on-call medical service, which is particularly recommended when a short and predictable arrival time via house call is the priority.
What do I bring when coming with a sick child?
Besides the child's health insurance card and an overview of medications, it is advisable to bring something to keep the child occupied and a drink for the wait. Hamburg has dedicated paediatric facilities, for example at AK Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift, Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus (AKK), and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).
Is the statutory on-call service free of charge?
Yes, for statutory (GKV) patients the on-call service (116 117) bills the health insurer directly, and the call itself is free. Private patients submit the invoice to their insurer. RAB's private house call, by contrast, is a self-pay or private-insurance service under the GOÄ, usually 150–300 €.
Where is the nearest on-call clinic in Hamburg?
Calling 116 117 gets you the nearest of Hamburg's on-call clinics with current opening hours; most are attached to hospitals and spread across the city. To avoid travel and waiting rooms, you can instead order a private doctor to your home, arriving within 60–90 minutes.
Is there urgent care near me in Hamburg?
Yes. Calling 116 117 connects you to the nearest statutory on-call clinic anywhere in Hamburg, and a private house-call doctor from RAB Arztbesuche comes directly to your home, hotel or office in every district, usually within 60–90 minutes, daily from 6 am to midnight.
Factual Note on Use
For a private medical assessment with a house call in Hamburg, RAB Arztbesuche is available 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 is the appropriate contact.