116117 Reviews 2,982

I called 116117 on 11 December 2025 at 23:03 (Nuremberg) during the night because I was experiencing an urgent medical situation: severe weakness, dizziness close to fainting, rapid heartbeat at rest, nausea and diarrhea. I was alone at home and needed medical guidance.

My German is very basic (A1). I warned the operator about this and was doing my best to answer questions. While I was trying to respond to a clarifying question, the operator simply hung up on me. The call was terminated from their side. I tried to call back multiple times and could not reach anyone again.

As a result, I was left completely without medical help in the middle of the night, despite an objectively unstable condition that clearly falls under the responsibility of 116117 (urgent, but not life-threatening).

This experience was frightening and deeply disappointing. Language difficulties should never be a reason to abandon medical triage. Germany is a country with many immigrants and expats, people still deserve access to healthcare when they are sick and scared.

I am legally residing, insured, and working in Germany. What happened felt not just unprofessional, but dangerous.

I sincerely hope no one else has to experience being cut off and left alone when they reach out for medical help.

Not only is the most useless services I have ever experienced but it is HIGHLY RIDICULOUS that a country full of immigrants and BUILD by immigrants have zero people that speak English in an emergency service. I was referred to 116117 for problems with my mental health, addiction and suicidal thoughts... I've been over a month going in a loop. Talking to therapist that they aren't therapist, that cannot speak English (but online and when you get referral they tell you they can) but most importantly: making an appointment with the 116117 for them to sent me to another appointment with the 116117 and so on (like this endless times). I have papers talking about my server depression and suicidal intents, in one of my 116117 appointments the "therapist" that wasn't a therapist, after spending one hour doing what I did home to tell me exactly the same I told her when we started the session, asked me to promise her I wasn't going to kill myself and then asked me to leave because I already spent my hour and even if we didn't find a solution and I was incredibly disrupt and heavily drinking since breakfast (which she was very well aware of my condition), it was basically not her problem because even though there was no one else waiting and I was begging for help, one hour appointment is one hour appointment and in Germany rules are rules. Which means: if you are depressed, sick or even suicidal / in a very unstable state of mine YOU STILL HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND FOLLOW THE RULES. I had noted that for my next mental crisis. So good that the world makes profit of people in delicate conditions but mostly that Germany shows its finest. All my German privilege friends that have anxiety because they do too many drugs at the techno parties get better help than my immigrant friends and my own ass after experience actual trauma, discrimination and horrible life threating situations. Start advertising places the way they should be advertised. Public services in Germany are for people with money and the Germans, period. And start hiring receptionist that are not rude an incredibly uneducated, and that don't hang the phone on you only because they are useless... Mostly in places where the people that goes asking for help are in need of help...................

Unfortunately I didn't have a good experience, I called several times and finally when someone took my call the person was quite unfriendly and patronizing. I don't necessarily expect friendliness but at least some respect.

I read a lot of bad reviews for this service, but I think I might be lucky to have experienced very friendly staffs. I have called them twice so far, and they've been very swift and helpful in their responses.

I experienced a frustrating 30-minute wait with the same grating music track on a constant 5-second loop. When I finally reached someone, they were incredibly rude and abruptly ended the call upon realizing I don’t speak German well.

It’s clear TK has no interest in addressing feedback and simply repeats, “according to the law, it is what it is.”

This level of service is disappointing and unprofessional.

Terrible customer service

I call them today very nice people . They told me I should to take my son in hospital . Thank you for information .

I called to 116117 because I had a terrible allergic reaction and it was dangerous to my life. I needed consultation - if I should call an emergency or doctor. And my German is not very good. I asked the lady if she speaks English and asked her to redirect me to Munich consultants but I was absolutely shocked when she started screaming at me: NUR DEUTSCH! She didn't listen at all only screamed: NUR DEUTCSH. Then she just put the phone down. And this situation repeated several times. I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED. She even didn't try to be polite. She could say at least: " Leider kann ich English nicht sprechen, konnen Sie bitte Deutsch sprechen", or at least "nur Deutsch BITTE". But she didn't say anything like this. I live and work in Germany using Blue Card as a highly qualified specialist and I have a good medical insurance. I can not explain all the details in German because I only have A2 level now. So if my German is not good SHOULD I DIE? There are many tourists usually in Germany, now it's football EURO cup - there are a lot of people in Germany from other countries who may not speak German but still may need a medical assistance. SHOULD THEY ALL DIE BECAUSE OF SUCH CONSULTANTS! I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED and I'm not sure if what this "lady" does is even legal! Please pay attention to this incident!

This is the first time I called 116 117, It was answered by the most kind man I have ever spoken to in Germany. Patient, explained everything nicely, calm. I have all the praise for him.

I live in germany and i Need a certificate for work but i dont speak germany cuz im here from 2 weeks and no doctors avaible! I called them and they put down when i ask if they speak english, i am a patient Who Need support you cant put down the Phone call! Thats so bad to do Is this what german offer?

I called them and surprisingly the person who took the phone told me they will send a doctor to my home. Doctor have never come to my house, i called them again then another person answered and she told I am not in system and for my pain I have to go to emergency to some hospital, then I said your colleague told me he will send me a doctor then she realised I am Registered in the system for a doctor visit. She then said I have to wait for another hour but still the doctor never came (In between i have called them multiple times sometimes they just cut the phone or just promise me doctor will come soon.) Apparently this service is just a joke. Another useless service in Germany running on public money. Still waiting for the doctor🥲

It's really sad that the representatives of this hot line can hang up without any excuses as they don't understand English , i have strong toothache and I need help, but they decided that i don't need anything and she didn't understand me , what should I do?

unprofessional and ridiculous. Don't call them

... tells an Israeli who lived before at Ramat Gan and near of Sheba Medical Centre.

The lady on the line screamt to me, did not want to tell me her name and hanged up on me after being extremely disrespectful and rude.

extremely irresponsible:

i am an international student in Germany and don’t know much about hospitals and Doctors that how do they work. yesterday i had an emergency (severe and sudden pain in Neck and Back) i was away from my home so i could not go to my Hausarzt. That’s why i wanted to call 116117 to inquire about which hospital would accommodate me (because orthopedics and doctors accommodate you only if you have appointment). First of all call took too long to transfer to local emergency department in my city, after a lady picked the call she was extremely rude and when i asked her if she can speak English, She said NO. I said okay no problem and i started explaining in German But she disconnected my call immediately. i had hardly said that „ich habe rückenschmerzen“ but she disconnected my call immediately. i was surprised that „is this emergency service?“

This kind of so called emergency service by 116117 is causing people to rush to local hospitals and block their emergency wards even in minor cases that could be solved over telephone too.