MEDICAL CARE

Most people in Switzerland have a general practitioner who is the first point of contact for issues relating their health. Schaffhausen has two hospitals: the public cantonal hospital and the private Belair Clinic. Referral to hospital is usually done by the GP. In the event of emergencies outside of surgery hours, patients can also attend the emergency practice or the A&E department of the cantonal hospital.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

In the canton of Schaffhausen, the emergency outpatient service is ensured by doctors working in private practice. During normal surgery hours please also contact your GP in an emergency. If he or she is not there, you will be told the name and telephone number of the surgery on duty. Outside of opening hours, you can contact Schaffhausen emergency practice which is located in the accident & emergency department of Schaffhausen cantonal hospital. The emergency practice is operated by the region’s GPs in the evenings and at weekends. The emergency department at the cantonal hospital is open 24/7, 365 days per year.

What to do in an emergency

Call 052 634 34 00 and the switchboard will connect you to the correct emergency service. During the day this may be the GP surgery on duty, the emergency practice or the emergency department. Dial 144 if the emergency is life-threatening.

Assessment and Crisis Intervention Centre (Abklärungs- und Kriseninterventionsstelle KiSH)

The Assessment and Crisis Intervention Centre (KiSH) is provided by the psychiatric service and is located at Breitenau Psychiatric Centre. It provides outpatient appointments with professionals at short notice (within 24 to a maximum of 48 hours) to help you deal with crisis situations. Tel. 052 634 72 75 after 17.00 in the evening to 08.00 in the morning and 052 634 34 34 at weekends.

MEDICAL AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE

When you move to Switzerland from abroad, you must take out medical and accident insurance within three months. If you have moved here from another canton, you must present proof of insurance to the new municipality where you live within 30 days. The medical insurance companies are obligated by law to accept you on the basic insurance. People in employment are usually insured against accidents. Please make sure that you are not insured twice. The basic insurance covers the costs for treatment by doctors on a general ward of the public hospitals on the canton of Schaffhausen’s list. However, a part of the treatment costs must always be paid by the patients themselves (depending on deductible and excess). The state grants insured persons, couples and families in modest economic circumstances reductions on their premiums. The canton of Schaffhausen Social Insurance Department processes applications for reductions in premiums. Anyone can take out additional insurance that covers further benefits, such as a stay in hospital on a private ward, in addition to the basic insurance.

DENTAL CARE

With a few exceptions, dental treatment is not included in the list of services covered by the obligatory basic insurance. Most dental costs are therefore paid for by the patients themselves. Special dental care insurance can be taken out for children.

In the canton of Schaffhausen, children and young people are able to use the facilities of the Schulzahnklinik, or School Dental Clinic. The Schulzahnklinik conducts an examination of pre-school children and schoolchildren once a year. The examination is free of charge and obligatory. All other Schulzahnklinik services are subsidised by the canton and can thus be offered on favourable terms.

Dental hygiene assistants visit pre-school establishments, primary schools and orientation schools and teach children about oral hygiene and the right diet.

SUPPORT AND CARE IN THE CANTON OF SCHAFFHAUSEN

In addition to the physical problems, chronic illnesses or invalidity bring many difficulties in everyday life. Older people are also confronted by new challenges. As an alternative to care and support at home, there are various residential forms, such as retirement and nursing homes, retirement complexes, etc. In Schaffhausen there are numerous counselling centres, such as Pro Senectute or Pro Infirmis, as well as support services from Spitex or the Red Cross that can help you with care and coping with everyday life.