Increased Calls to Schleswig-Holstein's 116 117 Hotline
Increased telephone consultations with medical professionals in the northern region.
A spike in calls to the 116 117 hotline, operated by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVSH) in Schleswig-Holstein, has become a notable trend. This surge, as revealed by the state government's response to an SSW parliamentary group inquiry, has exploded from 372,000 calls in 2022 to a whopping 438,000 calls in 2024.
"There's a visible decline in folks able to secure appointments directly with specialists," lamented SSW parliamentary group leader, Christian Dirschauer. He foresees a worsening situation due to demographic shifts and the looming dearth of medical professionals in practices.
Radiologists, Psychotherapists, and Neurologists in High Demand
A closer look at the state government's data reveals an especially heightened demand for appointments with radiologists (almost 15,500), psychotherapists (almost 13,400), and neurologists (11,200).
The 116 117 is a critical number, serving as the go-to for insured patients seeking appointments with specialists, general practitioners, pediatricians, and psychotherapists, as well as the medical on-call service. Based on the area code of a caller's phone number, their case is assigned to the appropriate on-call district. To access this appointment service, a general practitioner's referral with a priority code is usually required.
Urgent Call for Better Patient Management
The President of the Medical Association of Schleswig-Holstein, Henrik Herrmann, has sounded the alarm. "The escalating demand for treatment is exhausting the already limited resources of specialists, especially radiologists and psychotherapists," Herrmann warned. The increasing popularity of the 116117 number among patients exacerbates the issue.
He insists that effective patient management is essential for efficient, fair, and sustainable healthcare. By better steering patient flows, medical care can be shaped in a manner that benefits everyone. Herrmann advocates for this to be achieved through enhancing the primary care system, ensuring patients can consult a general practitioner in their region.
"It ain't like we suddenly sprout more specialists just because folks first see a GP," Dirschauer countered, hammering home the need for a broader range of services in Schleswig-Holstein. A timely radiologist appointment forms the backbone of further treatments, and the lengthy waiting times are simply unacceptable.
- The surge in calls to Schleswig-Holstein's 116 117 hotline is a significant trend, increasing from 372,000 calls in 2022 to 438,000 calls in 2024.
- SSW parliamentary group leader, Christian Dirschauer, expressed concern over the declining ability of people to secure appointments directly with specialists.
- Dirschauer foresees a worsening situation due to demographic shifts and the expected shortage of medical professionals in practices.
- A closer examination of the state government's data reveals a particularly high demand for appointments with radiologists, psychotherapists, and neurologists.
- Alarmingly, there were almost 15,500 demands for appointments with radiologists alone.
- The call volume for psychotherapists was close to 13,400, and neurologists received over 11,200 demands for appointments.
- The 116 117 hotline is a crucial number for insured patients seeking specialist, general practitioner, pediatrician, and psychotherapist appointments, as well as the medical on-call service.
- Depending on a caller's area code, their case is assigned to the appropriate on-call district.
- A general practitioner's referral with a priority code is usually necessary to access this appointment service.
- Henrik Herrmann, the President of the Medical Association of Schleswig-Holstein, has raised the alarm about the mounting demand for treatment overwhelming specialists, particularly radiologists and psychotherapists.
- Herrmann emphasizes the importance of effective patient management for efficient, fair, and sustainable healthcare.
- He advocates for the efficient steering of patient flows to shape medical care that benefits everyone.
- Herrmann proposes this can be achieved through improving the primary care system, ensuring patients can consult a general practitioner in their region.
- Dirschauer insists that a broader range of services is needed in Schleswig-Holstein to address the urgent need for timely radiologist appointments and the unacceptable waiting times.
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