Table 3.

Urgency classes of the Dutch College of General Practitioners Telephone Guide

Life-threatening (U1). Complaints in which the vital functions are in danger. The assistant informs the GP immediately. The GP interrupts his/her work at once and goes to the patient as quickly as possible; this must be within 15 min. If necessary, the ambulance service is notified at the same time (e.g. for a complaint with a serious chance of heart attack or loss of consciousness). Acute (U2). Complaints for which there is a real chance that the condition of the patient will worsen in a short time, with a risk of loss of vital functions. The assistant informs the GP immediately. The GP sees the patient as soon as possible, certainly within 1 hour (e.g. for the rapidly increasing shortness of breath of a patient known to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Urgent (U3). Time plays a potentially negative role for medical or emotional reasons. The patient's condition is evaluated within 3 hours (e.g. a patient with a cut or a lot of pain). Routine (U4). There is no pressure of time for this request for help. The assistant makes an appointment with the GP or gives information and advice.