Druivenstreek GP Post Ends Partnership with Emergency Number 1733 Over 'Dehumanizing' Situation

The Druivenstreek GP post has decided to sever its ties with the federal emergency number 1733 this summer, citing a "catastrophic weekend" in late June that left patients unable to reach the post for hours. This drastic measure means residents of Tervuren, Overijse, Hoeilaart, Wezembeek-Oppem, and Kraainem will now be directly connected to local reception staff when they call the emergency number.

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We have a home death where the family, after waiting an hour and a half, drove to the post themselves to ask for a doctor to come and confirm the death at home. Due to the circumstances, the police arrived and initially treated it as a suspicious death. That is emotionally just not okay for those people.

The decision stems from multiple incidents during the weekend of June 26-28, where chronic understaffing at the emergency center led to unprecedented wait times. In one alarming case, a healthcare facility waited three hours to report a death. Anja Van Nuffel, the post's manager, described the distressing consequences: "We had a home death where the family, after waiting an hour and a half, drove to the post themselves to ask for a doctor to come and confirm the death at home. Due to the circumstances, the police arrived and initially treated it as a suspicious death. That is emotionally just not okay for those people."

To guarantee the safety of the five affiliated municipalities during the critical summer months of July and August, the GP post will manage its own phone lines for the next nine weeks. Calls will now be routed directly to their in-house reception, bolstered by volunteers. While these staff members may not have the same medical triage training as emergency center operators, the new system ensures calls are answered. "We are now prioritizing our residents so they receive quality service," Van Nuffel stated. The post is currently self-funding the additional expenses incurred by this change.

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We are now prioritizing our residents so they receive quality service.

This issue extends beyond the Druivenstreek, with the entire medical sector sending an open letter to ministers Frank Vandenbroucke and Bernard Quintin. The letter, signed by various doctor syndicates and the umbrella organization for GP posts, warns that non-scheduled care is on the verge of "imploding." While other posts are waiting for the government to take responsibility, Druivenstreek is taking a different approach. "This is a temporary solution to put pressure on political leaders," Van Nuffel explained. "Business models for a better approach are ready, but those documents are currently just sitting on a desk."

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This is a temporary solution to put pressure on political leaders. Business models for a better approach are ready, but those documents are currently just sitting on a desk.