Call from Berlin clinics: Only dial 112 in an emergency

In an appeal to the public, Berlin's hospitals urge people to only call the emergency number 112 in an emergency.

The Berlin Hospital Association announced on Wednesday that the number is often dialed for cases that do not require immediate emergency care. "This not only leads to unnecessary stress for the emergency services, but also to longer waiting times for those who are actually in acute danger." In less urgent cases, those affected should call the medical on-call service. The hotline is staffed around the clock on 116 117. The background to the call is the European Day of the Emergency Call on February 11.