If there’s a life-threatening situation, call 112. If someone’s life is in danger or if you need urgent help, our hospital in Utrecht is open 24/7. This page tells you when you can go to our emergency care centre, and how A&E works.
Accident & Emergency (A&E)
Is there a life threatening situation?
Call 112.
Do you need urgent medical help, but the situation is not life threatening?
Call your GP. If your GP is closed you can contact ourout-of-hours medical services.
- Utrecht:088 130 9670
- Zeist, De Bilt, Bunnik, Wijk bij Duurstede en de Utrechtse Heuvelrug:088 130 9610
- Houten en Nieuwegein:088 130 9680
When to go to A&E
The emergency care centre in Utrecht has an A&E and out-of-hours medical and pharmacy services. This page tells you when you can go to our emergency care centre, and how A&E works.
You should go to A&E if:
- Your GP or the out-of-hours medical service tells you to go to A&E.
- The X-ray department refers you to A&E.
- You were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
- A doctor asks you to go to A&E.
How A&E works
When you get to A&E, please go to the reception desk. Tell the receptionist your name and other personal information, and say why you’ve come to A&E. You will need a valid ID, your health insurance card and areferral from your GP (if you have one).
The receptionist will ask you some questions about your health. This is to make sure you don’t have an MRSA infection. She will ask if:
- You live or work with live pigs or calves, or if you have lived or worked with these animals in the past.
- You were treated in a hospital outside the Netherlands in the past twomonths.
After you have registered, the receptionist will ask you to go to the waiting room. She will also give you a questionnaire to fill in. If you can’t answer some of the questions, you can leave them blank. Please give the form to the nurse or doctor who comes to pick you up. You will get the treatment you need as soon as possible. We use a system called ‘triage’ to work out when a doctor will see you.
Extra attention for children and older people
Children usually get help first at A&E, even if their situation is just as serious as an adult’s situation. We have special rooms for children. These rooms have beautiful wall decorations, cuddly toys, books and building blocks to play with. These things can help your child feel more at ease.
Every A&E department at every hospital in the Netherlands examines children in the same way. The doctor always follows the rules in the Dutch Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Act (in Dutch: Wet meldcode kindermishandeling en huiselijk geweld). We do this so we can spot problems as early as possible. The doctor will look at your child’s injury, but they will also check that your child is safe and doing well in general.
We use ‘delirium prevention’ for vulnerable older people at A&E. We call these vulnerable older people ‘geriatric patients’. Delirium prevention helps us stop patients from becoming seriously confused. If you come to A&E with a broken hip, we will start working with other specialists and with your GP straight away. This means that you get the best help, as soon as possible.
Sedation during treatment
If a treatment is painful, you or your child can have ‘sedation’. This means that you go into a light sleep. Our doctors know the right way to give you this sedation. Sedation helps you to relax, reduces your pain and makes it easier for the doctors to treat you.
Rules at A&E
We want your visit to Accident & Emergency (A&E) to be as safe and comfortable as possible. That’s why we have some rules, which you can read below.
Don’t eat or drink anything after you arrive at A&E.You’re not allowed to have any food or drink, at least until we know what is causing your symptoms.
You’re not allowed to drink alcohol, use drugs or smoke at A&E.
- We treat you with respect. If we make a promise, we keep it, and we expect you to do the same. If we’re unable to keep a promise, we will always tell you why.
- We do not accept rude or aggressive behaviour. This includes swearing, shouting or hitting. If you do these things, we will file a report.There’s a security guard present at A&E to ensure everyone’s safety.
- You can bring one or two peoplewith you when you go to A&E. If more people want to come, they will need to decide who will come at what time.
- Please stay in the treatment room or in the waiting room, and do not walk around the ward. This rule helps us protect our patients’ privacy.
- You can use your mobile phone, unless there’s a sign that says you can’t.
- Please set your phone to silent or vibrate.
- When someone calls you, talk quietly and find a spot where you don’t disturb other people.
Do not take photos at A&E. This rule protects the privacy of our staff, visitors and patients.
