We know it may sound weird but before calling the emergency helpline (unless you are in a life-threatening situation), please always call your family doctor or outside of office hours call the huisartsenpost.
Emergency helpline:
In case of an emergency, call 112 (toll-free) for urgent assistance in life-threatening situations or if you witness a crime. This number can be used to report emergencies of various types, such as a road accident, a fire, a medical emergency or an intruder, where every second counts. The operator who answers will immediately alert the appropriate emergency service: the fire brigade, police or ambulance service. They speak English so do not hesitate to call if you need to!
Emergency number if you’re deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech impediment:
If you’re hearing impaired and need urgent assistance, you can call 112 from a smart phone, tablet or computer that has the Tolkcontact app installed on it. Tolkcontact allows you to have a phone conversation using text, voice and video.
Maastricht University Hospital emergency department phone number:
+31-43-387 67 00
In case of an emergency in Maastricht that requires medical attention, you can call the MUMC+ Emergency department directly. Their phone line is open 24/7.
When can I go to a hospital emergency department?
The accident and emergency (A&E, or spoedeisende hulp) department of a hospital is meant for life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate specialist medical treatment.
You should always contact your GP before going to the A&E. The only exceptions to this are life-threatening emergencies. In these situations, you should call 112 immediately. If the 112 emergency centre doesn’t send an ambulance, they’ll tell you where you can go. You’ll have to arrange the transport yourself.
Overall, you will only be given medical attention at a hospital emergency department if:
- You become unwell or if you are injured and you need to go to the hospital immediately (by ambulance)
- Your general practitioner refers you to the emergency department. If you did not visit your GP first, there is a possibility that the specialist at the emergency department will refer you back to your GP
This is why it’s very important to call your GP first (in cases where your life is not threatened). Otherwise, you might just be wasting your time in going to an emergency room, only to be sent back to consult with your GP. Also, being admitted to the emergency department is very expensive, thus you will only want to go there in case you have a life-threatening emergency. In the case that you have an accident outside of your GP’s office hours, you can call the huisartsenpost .
Check out the Maastricht University Hospital’s emergency department webpage for more information.
