Procedure

How does the General Practitioner work?

First go through the questions (Do I have to go to the doctor?)

You cannot just visit the General Practitioner. The General Practitioner is only intended for urgent complaints that cannot wait until the next working day. First, go through a few questions on this website to assess whether you should contact them.

Data at hand when you call

Do you call the General Practitioner? Then make sure you have the following information at hand:

• your Citizen Service Number (BSN).

This is on your identity document (passport, identity card or driver’s license) and has 9 digits

• Date of birth, address and telephone number
• the name of your GP or GP practice

On the phone, you may also be asked about:

• your medical history (insofar as relevant to your request for help)
• medicines you may be taking

Are you calling for someone else?

If possible, have the patient contact the General Practitioner himself. Is this not possible? Then provide all the details of the person who needs help. Also make sure you are near the patient when you call. You can then describe the symptoms as well as possible. Sometimes the triage nurse (doctor’s assistant) also wants to ask the patient a few questions himself.

What can you expect?

When you call, you will get a triage nurse on the phone. A triage nurse has extensive medical knowledge and is specially trained to quickly determine how serious your symptoms are and what is needed. If necessary, this is done in consultation with the general practitioner who is on duty at the General Practitioner.

Repeat prescriptions Normally, patients arrange repeat prescriptions with their own GP. Only in urgent cases is it possible for the GP on duty to prescribe a repeat prescription. The doctor will then prescribe as many medicines as necessary until the next consultation hour of your own GP. Please note that the pharmacy charges extra outside office hours.