Emergency help, SOR and out-of-hours care

Know when to call 112 or 999, use SOR or contact night and holiday primary care.

Immediate danger: call for help

For an immediate serious threat to life or health, call 112 or 999. Give the exact location, what happened, who needs help and your contact details. Answer questions and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not delay the call while looking for insurance papers; do not use emergency numbers for test calls or routine appointment information.

Sudden illness outside clinic hours

Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna provides primary care for sudden illness or deterioration that should not wait for POZ to open but is not an immediate life-threatening emergency. It operates on weekdays from 18:00 to 8:00 and around the clock on weekends and public holidays. You can use any point; no referral or local POZ declaration is required.

Understand SOR

Szpitalny Oddział Ratunkowy (SOR) assesses and treats emergencies. Priority depends on medical triage, not arrival order. It does not replace routine family-doctor care, planned tests or ordinary prescription renewals. Tell staff about worsening symptoms while waiting and follow their instructions; do not leave without clarifying the next step.

Find the right facility

For addresses and access information use NFZ’s official facility information or 800 190 590. This information line is not an ambulance dispatcher. Bring available identification and medical information without delaying emergency care. Public funding depends on your entitlement and the circumstances; do not assume every non-emergency service is free for every foreign visitor.

Editorial summary checked against official sources: 2026-10-26

• Emergency number 112
• Patient portal: out-of-hours primary care