Hi all,

I think I'm coming down with a UTI, so I need to see a doc. Can I just go to the hospital or do I need to call a doctor and make an appointment?

Thanks in advance!

Anyone from Baden on this one?

I'd try and make an appointment with a doctor but in the meantime I'd be off to an Apotheke and see what they'd give me. (I mean sell me of course!)

Hope it improves soon.

I can't speak for Baden, but I have extensive experience with UTIs. I've had to go to the hospital a couple of times because you simply can't wait until the morning, the pain is so extraordinarily bad. If it's really terrible, go to A&E. You will probably have to wait, and you'll no doubt pay through the nose for it, but you'll leave with antibiotics to get you started and a prescription for the rest of the course. Well worth it, IMHO.

They won't sell antibiotics over the counter and (provided that it's not a recurrent problem and just a basic UTI) that's what she needs. Urgently. I sympathise.

I went for the same to the Permanence Clinic at Zürich HB to see a doctor, just turned up. Got a prescription and went to the pharmacy. The health insurance paid it all back, no questions asked.

Thanks for the replies. I had one back in Canada and I just went to a walk-in clinic and the doctor gave me some antibiotics. I have no idea where the doctors even are in this city. I think there this place: http://www.arbeitsmedizin.ch/ , but I also don't know if I need an appointment. I was thinking of going to the Kantonspital and just seeing a doc there.

Honestly, if it doesn't get worse, I can wait out until tomorrow after work, but if it is how I think it will be, I will need to go tomorrow morning, which leaves no time for appointments

Did you not select a Hausarzt when you took out health insurance? Even out of hours, the answering machine will often tell you where you can get help out of hours.

Otherwise, there's always the Kantonsspital. BTW don't worry about a Hausarztversicherung and not seeing your Hausarzt. In an emergency, you can go to another doctor and still be reimbursed.

It looks like there is a Permanence in Baden too at the train station.
http://www.permanence21.ch/
They are only open till 19:00 in the evening but do open at 8:00 in the morning and you don't need an appointment, you can just show up at 8. If you need to before the morning, you can call the emergency number: 056 222 18 22 and they will probably have an after hours option.

The Permanence clinic at the Zurich train station http://www.permanence.ch/frame_e.htm is open till 22:00 tonight, so you still have time to go there tonight too.

I didn't - think it depends on company and plan

If you don't have to select a Hausarzt, you either on an HMO or Telemed scheme, and should have received extensive instructions re who to call, or - even better - be free to go where you please.

Nope, I never did. I do not have Swiss health coverage because I am only here for 1 year and am covered by insurance at home. I will get reimbursed by them, so I don't think money is really a problem.

Thanks, saharanz, I think I will go there tomorrow morning. And of course I'll keep Kantonspital in the back of my mind if I decide to go after work instead.

Again, thanks to all for the replies, I really appreciate it!

You might want to check that because I think you must have a Swiss health insurance if you live here. If you don't sign up with somebody within 3 months then the kanton sign you up with one and start billing you.

I've been to the A&E here in Basel with a UTI before and it's absolutely fine - they may ask why you didn't see your doctor but they'll not turn you away. They will do a urine test, give you a prescription and drugs to see you through the night.

I've also seen an out of hours doctor before for another UTI - on a Sunday - here there is a number you can call to find who is on duty and then you can usually arrange to go to their surgery even late at night.

In the meantime, drink lots and lots.... and take some painkillers. If you get a fever or backache then don't wait get yourself down to A&E as then it could have spread to the kidneys.

Nawh, there is an official exemption I got from the Kanton. It is granted if you can show that your insurance is adequate and that Switzerland won't be stuck fixing you for nothing if you break.


watssli1, thanks. I don't feel so bad right at the moment, and I've been gulping water at a scary rate (I think I'm up to 5 liters since I got back from work). I'm pretty equidistant from the Kantonsspital and the other clinics, so I'll decide where to go tomorrow morning.