The standard of children's healthcare in Luxembourg is generally high with a well-developed healthcare system and many services provided free.
If you have a sick child in Luxembourg, you have several options for seeking medical assistance:
Emergency Services
In case of a medical emergency, dial 112. This is the emergency number in Luxembourg for police, fire, and medical emergencies.
Maison Médicale
In Luxembourg, a "maison médicale" is an on-call medical centre where you can bring your child to see a general practitioner (GP) outside of traditional office opening hours. It is important to check with your local maison médical before bringing a child under two as they will generally not treat an infant under the age of two.
On-call medical centers were set up to provide a replacement service for general practitioners for night care, weekends and public holidays. They provide a replacement service when medical practices are closed, according to www.sante.lu.
They offer medical assistance but are not emergency services. In the event of a medical emergency, you should always dial 112 directly.
The opening hours are weekdays: 8pm to midnight. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 8am to midnight. After midnight, it is necessary to call 112.
Consultations are done without appointment for the threemedical centres. The telephone switchboard is accessible during the medical centre opening hours at (+352) 20 333 111.
There are three on-call medical centers available throughout the country. They operate in the following locations:
Luxembourg-ville - 23, Val Fleuri, L-1526 Luxembourg.
Belval - 3-5, avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belvaux (Esch-Belval), Luxembourg
Ettelbruck - 110, avenue Lucien Salentiny, L-9080 Ettelbruck, Luxembourg
It's advisable to contact the specific centre directly to inquire about the services they offer and their operating hours.
Kannerklinik
The Children's Clinic is located on the campus of the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) and is the primary point of contact for comprehensive care for children in Luxembourg. It has an emergency department where you can take your child to be seen by a paediatrician if they require urgent medical attention.
The address is 4 Rue Ernest Barblé, L-1210 Luxembourg.
There is also a Paediatric Medical Centre, for children aged 0 to 15 years inclusive requiring urgent, non-hospital medical care, outside the consultation hours of their attending doctor/ pediatrician.
The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 7am to 10pm all year round and on weekends and public holidays 9am to 9pm.
Upon arrival at the Kannerklinik, your child is first seen by the nurse on duty who then will, depending on the reason for admission, either direct your child to be seen by the emergency department or the Paediatric Medical Centre, according to www.chl.lu.
The Paediatric Medical Centre offers a continuity service for paediatric primary care. This service is provided by all the region's private paediatricians, following the medical centre model. The Paediatric Medical Centre guarantees access to paediatric consultations, outside the time slots of paediatricians' offices, for children whose situation does not require care in a hospital environment.
You do not need a GP referral to take your child to see a specialist for outpatient treatment at a Luxembourg hospital. However, inpatient care such as surgery requires a referral.
© Unsplash / Kelly Sikkema
The Centre Hospitalier du Nord (CHdN) in Ettelbruck
This hospital offers accessible paediatric care for children without the need for an appointment. The service is available from 8am to 8pm.
The address is: 120 Av. Lucien Salentiny, 9080 Ettelbruck.
However, the hospital is not equipped to handle cases involving children arriving by ambulance, those with serious illnesses requiring hospitalisation, those in vital distress, or those in need of psychiatric care. In such instances, the KannerKlinik remains the principal point of contact.
Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (CHEM)
Pediatric medical emergencies are provided at the Esch-sur-Alzette emergency department every day from Monday to Sunday (including public holidays), from 10am to 8pm.
The address is: Rue Emile Mayrisch, L-4240 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
Pediatric policlinic, Kirchberg Hospital
The Pediatric Policlinic is located on the ground floor of the Kirchberg Hospital. It is accessible via the main entrance of the Clinique Bohler. The Pediatric Policlinic offers a general pediatric service, consultations and hospitalisations. The pediatric emergency department is open between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week to any child aged 0 to under 15, who requires urgent medical, surgical, ophthalmological, including psychiatric care.
There are certain instances where an appointment is necessary to attend the hospital.These are medical conditions such as colds, coughs, fever, conjunctivitis, etc. as well as when patients have been referred by another doctor.
The address is: Kirchberg Hospital – Pediatric Emergency/Policlinic, 9 Edward Steichen Street, L-2540 Luxembourg.
General Practitioner (GP)
You can also visit a general practitioner or pediatrician for non-emergency medical issues. They can provide initial assessment and treatment or refer you to a specialist if needed. Appointments can be made via https://www.doctena.lu/en/.
Click here to learn more about accessing paediatric support in Luxembourg and what you need to know.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies in Luxembourg can also provide advice and over-the-counter medications for minor illnesses. Pharmacists can guide you on whether your child needs to see a doctor.
It's important to assess the severity of your child's condition and seek appropriate medical care accordingly. If you're unsure about the seriousness of the situation, it's best to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention promptly.