Treatment Outside Office Hours

For treatment by a general practitioner (GP) between 17.00 - 8.00 hours during weekdays and on weekends and holidays, contact SHDA (Stichting Huisartsen Dienstenposten Amsterdam), the "Doctors Service Foundation of Amsterdam", a cooperative effort of GP's in Amsterdam, Diemen, Badhoevedorp and Landsmeer.

CALL   088 0030600

During regular office hours SHDA is closed and your regular GP's office will be open.

How does it work?
When you phone you'll be connected to a speciallytrained doctor's assistant working under strict procedural guidelines.  Explain your problem to the assistant and, in many cases, she or he will be able to give you the advice you need, cross-checked with the on-duty doctor. If this does not solve your problem they will consult with one of the on-duty doctors and establish the best course of action: a telephone consultation, a prescription or a home visit, for example.

You'll be asked for the patient's name, address, telephone number and date of birth. 

If the patient's life is in danger an ambulance will be contacted directly and you will receive necessary instruction.

In less serious situations you'll be asked:

• The nature of your enquiry/patient's symptoms
• The name of the regular attending GP
• Which medicines the patient is taking
• Whether or not the patient has a fever and, if so, how high
• Patient's insurance information (insurer and policy number)
  

Patients who do not have insurance can also make use of SHDA, though a fee will be charged. Foreign tourist (even if they have insurance) are also obliged to pay a fee. When they return home they can collect payment from the insurance company with the receipt.