Frequently Asked Questions, Doctor Home Visit

RAB Arztbesuche is a private medical home-visit service in Berlin that dispatches a licensed physician daily from 6 am to midnight within 60–90 minutes, here you find answers to the most common questions about process, conditions and service area.

From typical waiting times and how a home visit works to specific conditions: all answers reflect the actual operation of our Berlin home-visit service. Questions about costs and GOÄ billing are answered in detail on our dedicated costs page. 331 reviews averaging 5.0 stars (as of 2026) reflect the reliability of the service.

Medically reviewed by Susanne Reiche

Consultant in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative care, private physician

Last updated: 6 June 2026

How quickly does a private doctor reach you in Berlin?

A private house-call doctor in Berlin usually arrives within 60 to 90 minutes, often faster in the evening, at night or on weekends when rush-hour traffic is gone.

What does the doctor bring to a house call?

The doctor brings a complete mobile practice: stethoscope, blood-pressure monitor, ECG, rapid tests (influenza, RSV, strep, COVID), otoscope, pulse oximeter, glucose meter, syringes, emergency medication, dressings and prescription pad.

How do I book a house call in Berlin?

The simplest way to book a doctor house call in Berlin is by phone, a structured triage takes 3 to 5 minutes, you give symptoms, address and preferred language. Alternatively send a WhatsApp callback request or use the online booking form.

Sick at night in Berlin, what to do?

For life-threatening symptoms, dial 112 immediately. For urgent but non-life-threatening problems at night in Berlin you have two options: the free 116117 on-call service (often multi-hour waits) or a private house call within 60 to 90 minutes.

Child has fever, when should the doctor come?

Infants under 3 months with fever above 38 °C always need immediate medical review, that is always urgent. In toddlers and older children the pure temperature matters less than the general condition: drinking, activity, breathing pattern and skin colour decide urgency.

Can I get a vaccination at home in Berlin?

Yes. We deliver standard vaccinations such as tetanus, diphtheria, polio, influenza, pneumococcus or common travel vaccines as part of a house call. You skip the practice trip; we bring the vaccine and observe tolerance on site for 15 minutes.

When to call 112 versus 116117?

Call 112 for life-threatening situations, unconsciousness, chest pain, breathing failure, paralysis, seizure, severe bleeding. Call 116117 for urgent but non-life-threatening symptoms outside practice hours.

Doctor for a sick child at home in Berlin, when does it make sense?

A house call for a sick child makes sense when mobility, fever or infection-control argue against the practice trip. We come, examine, give clear instructions and define together the thresholds for hospital review, very young infants with fever always belong in a paediatric clinic.

House call for seniors in Berlin, what matters?

Senior house calls are a strength of our work: no waiting-room stress, full polypharmacy review, attention to senior-typical pictures (dehydration, delirium, silent pneumonia, fall sequelae) and an honest conversation with family or guardians about treatment goals, hospital escalation only when medically essential.

Doctor at home during pregnancy in Berlin, when does it make sense?

For classic GP problems during pregnancy (cold, gastroenteritis, urinary infection) a house call is sensible and gentle. Anything obstetric (bleeding, contraction-like pain, water breaking, marked change in fetal movement) belongs without delay in a maternity hospital, not with us.

Doctor for acute flu in Berlin, house call or practice?

For acute flu a house call is the sensible route: the illness flattens you, and a crowded waiting room is unbearable and unhelpful for others. We bring the influenza rapid test, check respiratory tract and oxygen saturation and decide between symptomatic therapy and Tamiflu, early in high-risk patients, restrained in standard courses.

Doctor for gastroenteritis in Berlin, house call sensible?

For acute gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea a house call is sensible, the trip to a waiting room is incompatible with toilet urgency. We examine, assess hydration, give an antiemetic if needed and define the threshold at which intravenous rehydration in hospital becomes necessary.

Doctor for a migraine attack in Berlin, house call sensible?

For a severe migraine attack a house call is sensible, light, noise and the trip to the practice intensify the attack. We can inject a triptan and an antiemetic on site and rule out the important secondary headache causes clinically (subarachnoid haemorrhage, meningitis, sinus vein thrombosis).

How long is the wait for a private GP house call in Berlin?

A typical wait for a private house call in Berlin is between 45 and 120 minutes, depending on time of day, district, traffic and parallel patient load. For high urgency we accelerate; for life-threatening pictures 112 is always faster and the right route.

How long does a doctor's house call in Berlin last?

A typical house call in Berlin lasts 25 to 45 minutes from doorbell to leaving. History, examination, diagnostics, therapy and counselling all take time, faster only with a clear unambiguous picture, slower for complex cases or several patients in one household.

What should I have ready for a doctor's house call in Berlin?

Have ready: insurance card or private-insurance policy, current medication list, vaccination booklet, maternity record if pregnant, recent findings, a quiet bed and good light, and a support person who can interpret or supplement. Thirty minutes of preparation save time.

Can a private doctor backdate a sickness note?

A backdated Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung is legally only possible in justified exceptions and can be backdated by at most three calendar days. We assess case-by-case, with plausible history and current findings it is possible within limits. A 'wish' backdating without a medical basis is not possible.

Can the private doctor issue a referral to a specialist?

Yes. We issue referrals to specialists, unrestricted to private practices. A referral to a statutory specialist is recognised as a medical recommendation but does not allow statutory billing; for that, GKV patients still need a referral from their statutory contract GP.

Blood draw at home in Berlin, possible privately?

Yes. We perform blood draws as part of a private house call. We set the indication, take venous blood, send the samples to a Berlin lab (e.g. Limbach, Synlab) and report results to you usually within 24 to 48 hours with a telephone or written interpretation.

What is the difference between a private doctor and a GP?

The difference is not in training (both are licensed physicians) but in billing. Private doctors bill GOÄ directly with the patient; contracted GPs bill EBM with the statutory health fund. This drives different fees, availability and wait times.

Where do I find an English-speaking doctor in Berlin?

English-speaking doctors in Berlin are accessible via private on-call services (often multilingual teams), the International Offices of the university hospitals (Charité), and expat-focused practices. RAB provides an English-speaking doctor for English-language bookings.

Does a doctor also come at night in Berlin?

Yes, a private house call is available at night in Berlin, typical arrival 60 to 90 minutes. For life-threatening symptoms always call 112 immediately. For statutorily insured patients without life-threat, the free 116117 service is the night-time alternative.

What is the German on-call medical service?

The on-call medical service in Germany covers ambulatory care outside practice hours, evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays. There are two pillars: the statutory service via 116117 and private on-call services.

House call or A&E, when which?

For life-threatening symptoms A&E (via 112) is unambiguously the right path. For urgent but non-life-threatening complaints a house call is often the better option, faster, easier, in familiar surroundings, without hours of waiting.

Does a doctor come to my Berlin hotel?

Yes, a private doctor's house call to a Berlin hotel is standard, the doctor comes directly to your room, examines, treats, issues prescription and a travel-insurance certificate. Typical arrival 60 to 90 minutes, multilingual on request.

Which doctor actually comes to my home?

A private house call in Berlin is performed by a licensed general practitioner or internist with acute-medicine experience. We tell you the doctor's name and speciality at booking. All doctors are members of the Berlin Medical Chamber and bound by the medical code of conduct.

Need a doctor now? Our private medical team is available daily 6 am – midnight.

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