Berlin's emergency rooms frequently attend to non-urgent cases
In the heart of Berlin, a significant portion of patients treated in central emergency departments are admitted to the hospital, according to a spot check. This trend, however, raises concerns about the overcrowding of these vital medical facilities.
A recent survey by AOK Nordost and Forsa reveals that many people in Berlin are visiting emergency rooms without first seeking medical advice. In fact, only 8% of the surveyed individuals first sought an initial assessment via the 116 117 medical on-call service. This lack of preliminary consultation can lead to overcrowding, as the emergency rooms are often used as a catch-all by people.
The Berlin Hospital Association takes patients' perceived ailments seriously but believes that needs that could be better addressed in the outpatient sector should not belong in the acute care of an emergency rooms. Common non-emergency issues causing overcrowding include patients presenting with conditions that could be managed in primary care or outpatient settings rather than emergency care.
One identified cause relates to vulnerable populations such as people experiencing homelessness and recent migrants who may present with infectious diseases like cutaneous diphtheria. These cases, while requiring medical attention, are not always acute emergencies. The 2025 diphtheria outbreak among migrants and homeless populations particularly strains emergency services in Berlin.
In addition to these specific cases, urban factors such as population density and healthcare system accessibility might also contribute to non-emergency crowding in emergency rooms. Commonly, in many urban centers, emergency department overcrowding stems from non-urgent cases such as minor injuries, vague symptoms, or chronic condition flare-ups that might be handled outside emergency departments.
The staff in Berlin's emergency rooms are struggling to keep up with the high volume of patients. Priority in the emergency room is given to real emergencies, which can lead to long waiting times for non-emergency cases. Approximately 42% of the surveyed individuals who visited an emergency room in the past 5 years stated feeling too unwell to wait.
The Berlin Hospital Association emphasizes the need for better patient guidance, including in the treatment by general practitioners. Many people in Berlin are visiting emergency rooms because they simply want a prescription or an injection for a medication, or because they have a rib injury from two weeks ago or a surgical scar from six months ago that still hurts. These cases could often be managed in primary care or outpatient settings.
In summary, the main documented non-emergency contributor to overcrowding in Berlin’s emergency departments recently is the outbreak of diphtheria cases in vulnerable populations, who may require care but not always urgent emergency intervention. Other common typical non-emergency issues causing crowding (minor illnesses, chronic conditions, social issues) are usual causes but were not explicitly mentioned in the provided data. It is crucial for patients to seek medical advice before visiting emergency departments, to help alleviate the strain on these vital services. The 116 117 number is available outside of office hours for illnesses that patients would otherwise go to the practice for.
- While the 2025 diphtheria outbreak among migrants and homeless populations in Berlin is a significant concern, other factors contributing to emergency department overcrowding include patients seeking help for minor illnesses, chronic conditions, and social issues.
- The staff in Berlin's emergency rooms are struggling to keep up with the high volume of patients, as priority is given to real emergencies, leading to long waiting times for non-emergency cases.
- The Berlin Hospital Association emphasizes the importance of patient guidance, advocating for better management of cases in primary care or outpatient settings, such as prescriptions or examinations of old injuries or surgical scars.
- General news reports highlight the increasing concern about the overcrowding of vital medical facilities in Berlin, with a significant percentage of patients admitted to the hospital from central emergency departments.
- In the context of workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, it's vital to educate the public on when to seek emergency care and when to seek advice from a general practitioner or outpatient services to prevent overcrowding in emergency rooms and ensure better mental health and overall fitness-and-exercise.
