The Luxembourg Minister of Health, Lydia Mutsch, has presented the new information and awareness campaign for out-of-hours medical clinics.
In an attempt to inform the population on the activities and workings of out-of-hours medical clinics, the Ministry of Health has developed new information and awareness campaign on the subject.
In fact, a survey carried out by the TNS-Ilres institute found that almost one-third of the population ignore the existence of out-of-hours medical clinics and almost 40% are misinformed on the Luxembourg health system. The survey was done on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
As for those who have visited such a medical centre in the past twelve months, the survey showed that a large majority were satisfied with the reception, as well as the centres’ opening hours (82%), medical consultation (79%), and the waiting times (73%).
Indeed, the relatively short waiting time forms one of the main reasons for going to an out-of-hours medical centre rather than to a hospital A&E.
However, in spite of these positive experiences, a large portion of the residents choose to go to the emergency services, even when there is no real medical emergency, for instance in the case of fever, a cold, a small cut, or gastro-intestinal problems. In these cases, going to an out-of-hours medical centre is a better alternative.
Through the use of multilingual posters, radio and video clips (in French, German, English and Portuguese), the new campaign informs the public of the addresses of three such medical centres along with their opening hours.
As such, this type of medical centre functions as a GP office, implementing such services outside of the normal GP opening hours.
The Ministry of Health’s campaign also forms part of the government’s steps towards the improved organisation of hospital emergency services.
Photo by MSAN. From left to right: Dr Françoise Berthet, head doctor of the curative medicine division; Lydia Mutsch, Minister of Health; Laurent Zanotelli, commissioner for hospitals
