Huisartsenposten Zaanstreek Waterland

General Questions
- Should I call 112 or the General Practitioner?
  If you consider yourself - or someone in your vicinity - to be in an acute life threatening situation you can call an ambulance direct via 112. Call 112 for example at an accident site with wounded or when someone has collapsed or threatens to drown. Call 112 in any case of an acute hart problem.
  112 is not meant for a discussion regarding non acute and not life threatening health problems.
  General Practitioner
  When it is clear there is no life threatening situation but you do consider there's a need for a check by a G.P. soon, and it is after your own clinic's practice hours, you should call The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic.
  The doctors assistant at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic determines together with you which care is needed. It could be self-care advice or a referral to your own GP, but it could also be an appointment at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic for a check-up by the G.P. on duty. In some cases an appointment will be made for the emergency visiting G.P. to visit you. In consultation with the G.P. the assistant could possibly decide to sent you an ambulance. In that case the assistant will call the ambulance, you do not need to concern yourself with that.
- When should I call The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic?
  When it is clear there is no life threatening situation but you do consider there's a need for a check by a G.P. soon, and it is after your own clinic's practice hours, you should call The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic. The doctors assistant at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic determines together with you which care is needed. It could be self-care advice or a referral to your own GP, but it could also be an appointment at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic for a check-up by the G.P. on duty. In some cases an appointment will be made for the emergency visiting G.P. to visit you. In consultation with the G.P. the assistant could possibly decide to sent you an ambulance. In that case the assistant will call the ambulance, you do not need to concern yourself with that.
- Why an After Hours General Practitioners Clinic, will I encounter there my own family doctor?
  There are After Hours General Practitioners Clinics in order to better organize G.P. services after office hours.
  The change is small that you'll meet your own family doctor. There are over 140 participating doctors in the region Zaanstreek - Waterland. They all taken their turn on a duty roster.
- Why do I first need to make an appointment by phone?
  The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic provides emergency care. The assistant will ask a number of questions regarding your medical complaint in order to assess the level of emergency. Only then will she be able to determine which kind of care is required. Moreover, in this manner she can plan the appointments and ensure you need not wait longer than absolutely necessary when you come to the clinic.
- I have an appointment at a set time but still have to wait. How is that possible?
  Your appointment will be placed in the agenda during the phone conversation. It can still happen that you'll need to wait (a short time) because a consultation can take longer or very acute care problems can intervene. Often the Saturdays are especially busy and waiting times can increase. Usually the doctors assistant can estimate the amount of time you'll have to wait.
- Is there a chemist at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic?
  There is no chemist at, but nearby, The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic. There is a 24 hour service chemist in the Waterland hospital in Purmerend.
  There is a hospital chemist situated around the corner of The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic in Zaandam. This chemist is not open for 24 hours. Should this chemist be closed, there is a 24 hour city chemist. More information is available at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic.
- I’ve run out of medication. Can I get a repeat prescription at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic?
  Usually you'd ask your own family doctor for repeat prescriptions. The G.P. on duty at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic can provide you with an emergency repeat prescription. You will receive a prescription to last until the first following opening hours of your family clinic.
- I don’t have any transport, can a doctor come to me?
  Only when you cannot come to the clinic for medical reasons will the doctor come to you. ‘Not having transport' is no reason for a doctor's emergency visit. You need to organize your own transport to get you to the clinic.
- Do I need to pay for my contact with The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic?
  Yes. Rates will be charged for alls contacts with The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic. The bill will be sent to your health insurance or to you. This depends on your Healthcare Insurance. Is your family doctor not connected with our After Hours General Practitioners Clinic then you will need to pay at the clinic (preferably with bankcard). It's the same with patients who cannot produce a valid health insurance card. . After payment you will receive a receipt which you can present to your insurance to be refunded.
  If you have a current European Health care card you can leave a copy with the assistant and we can sent the bill to the insurance.
- I have only spoken to an assistant and still get a bill, is this correct?
  Yes. The doctors assistant operates under the responsibility of the G.P. on duty. All her advice is checked and assessed by the doctor. A registry is made of every care question for your own doctor's dossier. it is not necessary to have spoken with the G.P. for a telephone consultation to have occurred.
- Are the telephone conversations also recorded at The After Hours General Practitioners Clinic?
  Yes. All conversations with people who contact the General Practitioners service phone line are automatically recorded and will be retained for 5 years. This also happens with phone conversations from the General Practitioners service phone line.
  The conversation will be recorded from the moment you are connected with the General Practitioners service line until the connection with the assistant or doctor is disconnected.
  These recordings can be used by possible complaint procedures and for staff expertise development.

General Practitioner