"Arztruf Hamburg" 116 117 becomes increasingly popular - Hamburg's 24/7 medical hotline sees rising demand for urgent and routine care

Hamburg's Arztruf hotline saw a steady rise in demand last year. The service handled 303,952 calls in 2025—an increase of around 3% over three years. It remains a key resource for residents needing medical news today or urgent care outside regular hours.

The Arztruf Hamburg hotline operates 24 hours a day via the number 116 117. Callers receive immediate support from trained medical staff who assess their needs. Depending on the situation, the team arranges telephone consultations, home visits, or directs patients to emergency clinics.

Beyond urgent care, the service helps book appointments with local doctors. Most requests were for general practitioners, internists, neurologists, and radiologists. Patients can also secure prompt slots with Hamburg-based specialists through the same system.

The hotline covers two main functions: coordinating on-call medical services and managing routine appointments. Its dual role ensures residents can access both emergency and non-emergency care efficiently.

The 3% rise in calls over three years highlights the hotline's growing importance. It continues to provide round-the-clock medical guidance and appointment scheduling. Residents rely on the service for both urgent and planned healthcare needs, including care credit options.