During public holidays in Riga and other major cities in Latvia, residents will be able to receive medical consultations from on-call doctors who provide assistance within the competence of family doctors, the National Health Service (NVD) reported to the LETA agency.
In the case of minor illnesses such as a cold, sore throat, slight fever, or digestive disorders, as well as exacerbations of chronic diseases, the NVD urges individuals to contact the specialists of the family doctors' consultation hotline at 66016001. Experts will provide medical recommendations on the recommended actions. Residents can also receive advice if they have doubts about whether they need to see a doctor immediately or if the visit can be postponed until the next working day.
In the case of injuries — burns, bruises, fractures, and others — or sudden illnesses, assistance is provided at emergency medical care points or in the hospital's emergency department.
The NVD reminds that before going to the hospital's emergency department on your own, it is advisable to call and discuss the situation to ensure that the necessary assistance will be provided there. For example, there are emergency departments in hospitals that can be approached if there is a suspicion of a bone fracture or if stitches are needed for a wound, while others can provide help for body burns.
The NVD urges individuals to consider that visiting the hospital's emergency department is not an alternative to planned medical services. This is a decision for acute cases where urgent medical assistance is required.
In life-threatening situations, such as sudden chest pain, severe injury, or if a person is unconscious, it is necessary to immediately call the emergency medical service (EMS) at 113 or the unified emergency number 112.
To avoid unpleasant surprises during the holiday weekend, the NVD also recommends checking your medicine supplies in a timely manner and ensuring that you have everything necessary, such as regularly taken medications and first aid supplies.
For those with chronic diseases, it is advisable not to postpone obtaining prescriptions.
