Something that is not on many visitors‘ bingo card is a trip to the hospital. But life just happens and sometimes the unexpected becomes a reality. That has been the case for my family this last month.

As I neared my due date for Berlin baby number three, my parents arrived from the USA to help with the older two kids. There was a rush of emotions seeing them at the airport, anticipating the wild ride we had in store. Little did we know it was almost more than we could handle. My dad has said this would be his last trip to Europe every time he has visited and I can guarantee this trip will be the last as it nearly killed him.  Health issues he had at home were exacerbated by a surprise infection and while we toured Berlin’s Technical Museum it became clear he was experiencing a serious health crisis. After trying less extreme measures like rest and over the counter meds, my dad was heading to the hospital.

My dad is out of the hospital now (pressing my thumbs he stays that way) and I can say it has been a learning experience for all of us. My family has been very lucky to be  fairly healthy and the only time I have experienced hospitals in Germany is to give birth. Here are some of the takeaways I have from this experience in case you find yourself or a loved one in this unfortunate situation.

(Please note: I pointed out the accessibility of English-speaking services as that was a major concern for my visiting, non-German speaking family. However, of course there is no expectation that services in another country should speak English. This is purely our experience to help provide info for other visitors in crisis.)

Double Hospital Room in Berlin Photo: Erin Porter

Emergency Numbers in Germany

By the time things became dire and my mom decided to call an ambulance we actually had to do a little research on the best number. Like anyone who has spent time in Europe, I had the emergency number of 112 etched into my brain but we weren’t sure if they would speak English for my anglophone family. We also wanted to see if we could get advice on whether this merited an emergency entrance. I took to a panicked google search to find what number we should call.

112 is the go-to emergency number for ambulance and fire in Europe. Other emergency/contact numbers you should know:

• 110 Police
• 116117 Out-of-Hours Medical Care (available from a German landline or cellphone)
• 00800 4759 2330 Nursing advice
• 49 (0) 40 4286-50 Non-Emergency Police Contact
• 49 (0)40 228022 Pharmacy Emergency Services (night services)
• 49 (0)40 222277 Animal Rescue and Welfare Centre
• 49 (0)1805 05 0518 Dental Emergency Service (Out-of-Hours)
• 40 (0)1805 246373 Legal Advice Emergency Hotline (nationwide)

Calling an Ambulance in Germany 

We were concerned about my dad’s worsening condition and also weren’t sure if the medical advice hotline (116117) would speak English. My mom called 112 and after describing his symptoms (in English) an ambulance was dispatched. As she was in a temporary apartment, she was momentarily stumped when they needed address and postal code. Pro tip: be prepared with this information for easier dispatch.

The ambulance arrived quickly to their apartment in Mitte and it was a swirl of first paramedics (non-English speaking) that did an initial assessment with the help of google translate and my husband translating over the phone. They determined there was a significant medical emergency and called for a second ambulance with a doctor who conveniently spoke English.

It was all concluded in under 30 minutes and my dad was whisked away by ambulance on his own. Because of Covid protocols, my mom couldn’t go with him and he was out the door without his phone or hearing aids before she could react. She had given important medical history, his list of medication, and been given a number to call to reach the Rettungsstelle (Emergency department also known as the Notaufnahme), but was shocked to have him gone so fast. In the next days she also saw they had left a variety of discarded medical equipment which surprised her. Which Müll (trash) do used syringes and medical waste go in?

We were told to call the Rettungsstelle in about 1.5 hours and dutifully called, but there was no answer. We tried back for about 30 minutes and just assumed this typical late night customer service in Germany, but it appears what was actually happening was much worse. In my dad’s not-quite-lucid state the next day he described an angry man who was yelling at the staff in the bed next to his before being denied admittance. He then said there was a fire alarm and all the patients were wheeled out into the cool night to stand and wait for an indeterminate amount of time. It sounded like chaos, and likely was. The story made the front page of the Berliner Zeitung as the disgruntled patient really had come back to the hospital and set a fire, prompting my dad’s horrible first night in the hospital. Unfortunately, I can’t say his experience got that much better.

Hospitals in Germany 

Hospitals in Germany are numerous and generally of high-quality. Called Krankenhaus (singular or Krankenhäuser plural), they usually offer care for most different areas of ailment and will treat anyone regardless of insurance.

• Öffentliche Krankenhäuser (public hospitals) – Publicly-funded hospitals which include teaching hospitals. They make up around 30% of all hospitals in Germany with 50% of hospital beds.
• Privatkrankenhäuser (Private hospitals) – Managed by corporations and may only accept private patients.
• Frei gemeinnützige Krankenhäuser (Charitable hospitals) – Run by non-profits such as religious or voluntary organizations like the German Red Cross.

If you are admitted through the Rettungsstelle, you will have to go through an introductory assessment where they decide what is needed and what ward you will be in. Usually it is not as exciting as my dad’s first stay, but it is frequently chaotic and may involve long wait times. If you can avoid coming in under this type of scenario, some hospitals allow you to register a visit beforehand (typically from 9-16:00) for a more seamless entry. You may also receive a Verweisung (referral) from your primary care doctor.

Cultural Differences in German versus North American Hospitals 

View of Berlin from hospital Photo: Erin Porter

Once you are established in a room, things get a bit more comfortable. Single rooms are rare and may require an additional fee, so expect to have a roomie. If you have had any experience with German health care you should also be prepared for a lack of privacy compared to North American hospitals. Even though you will be in close quarters with another patient, there will be no curtain or separation and you may speak – or not – with your roommate as little or as much as you like. With my dad’s various roomies and the language barrier, it was mostly polite avoidance although I tried to always knock before entering and offer a good morning and good bye.

Other cross cultural areas that have potential to be awkward are the windows. My poor feverish dad was alternately hot sweats then chilled as we tried to accomodate with opening and closing the window for a slight luften (airing out). I was nervous this would irritate the Krankenpfleger (nurses) as well as the other patient, but mostly they dealt with our North American idiosyncrasies. And at least we had a lovely view along the Landwehrkanal all the way to the Fernsehturm and beyond.

The language barrier was also a barrier. My parents only speak English and my translation skills were tested with a host of new medical vocabulary as well as the stresses of the situation and being in my last month of pregnancy. This led to a lot of half-understandings between my parents and the staff and added to inherent frustrations. I wrote my dad a note for when we weren’t there that said,

Hallo! Ich bin ______. Ich spreche nur Englisch aber wenn sie Deutsch wollen sie konnen meinen Schwigersohn anrufen # _______. Danke “

Ultimately I don’t know if anyone read it but it helped me feel better about leaving my dad feeling ill in a strange place in a language he didn’t understand.

…because there was a lot my parents didn’t understand. My experience with hospitals in the USA and Germany is fairly limited, but after living in Berlin for the last decade I am used to the lower level of customer care. My parents, while regular visitors, were not. Adding to the communication challenges, the occasionally gruff manner of the staff was difficult. We were pressing a nurse for answers on why a antibiotic was not being refilled and he simply walked away as he gave a half-answer, waving his hand as if none of this was his concern.

To add to our difficult situation, my dad’s stay put him in the hospital over Easter weekend where the staff went down to a skeleton crew, the sparse monitoring went down to an insufficient standard, and there was only one doctor on call on the whole floor for the 4-day weekend. This was the lowest of the low and our morale really dropped. The small saving grace was the night of Easter Sunday when my mom stayed with him in the hospital room and the staff showed surprising kindness wheeling in an extra bed and providing some food and tea.

There is more to point out about differences between our North American expectations and the reality of hospitals in Germany, more tips I could share (like bring snacks – German hospital meals leave much to be desired), but that will have to wait for another post. For now I will leave it on a happy note that my dad is doing better and had the chance to hold his fifth grandchild, the newest member of our family, little Wolfgang Benedikt.

May you all be healthy and happy at home and in your travels!