Everything full? Here's what you can do

Many GP practices aren't accepting new patients at the moment. That doesn't mean you're on your own.

Live in Eindhoven or Veldhoven? The region's GPs also have their own website, where you can search by postcode and register straight away: huisartszuidoostbrabant.nl. Its front page is in Dutch, but its search has an English version. The Holland Expat Center South also has information for internationals about finding a GP.

1. Ask your health insurer for help

Your health insurer has a legal duty of care (zorgplicht). It must make sure enough care is available and, if you ask, step in to help when you can't get care in time. This is called care mediation (zorgbemiddeling).

Your insurer must make an effort to help, but it can't guarantee a GP straight away.

Call the number on your insurance card or your insurer's website, and say something like:

"I can't find a GP who is accepting new patients. I'd like to request care mediation (zorgbemiddeling)."

It helps if you can tell them which practices you've called.

2. If that doesn't solve it

• Complain to your health insurer. This is always the first step.
• Tell the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa). The NZa uses reports to spot problems, but it can't step in for you personally.
• Still can't agree with your insurer? The Health Insurance Complaints and Disputes Foundation (SKGZ) handles complaints about health insurance.

3. Need care now, but don't have a GP yet?

• If it's life-threatening: call 112 straight away.
• If it can't wait, during the day: ask a nearby GP if they can see you as a passant (a temporary visitor). This is for urgent, one-off care.
• If it can't wait, in the evening, at night or at the weekend: call the GP out-of-hours service (huisartsenpost). If a practice near you lists a different number on its website, use that one.
  • Eindhoven: 088 876 5151
  • Veldhoven (SHoKo): 040 266 05 05
  • 's-Hertogenbosch: 088 876 5050
• If you need long-term care, for example because of a chronic illness, contact your health insurer and tell them this.

This website doesn't give medical advice. If you're worried about your health, contact a healthcare provider.

Where this comes from

• NZa: what insurers must do under their duty of care (in Dutch)
• NZa: is the duty of care about effort or results? (in Dutch)
• NZa: where to go if the duty of care isn't met (in Dutch)
• LHV: 5 questions about closed patient lists (in Dutch)
• Huisartsenposten Oost-Brabant and SHoKo: out-of-hours phone numbers
• Veldhovens Weekblad: about the regional GPs' platform (in Dutch)