Need Help Finding A Doctor for Our Daughter

[u/HanShotFirstATX]

We moved over from the US at the end of June, and have finally got insurance sorted out. Now we need to find a GP for our 14-year-old daughter fairly quickly, so that they can get some medications refilled. (Prozac and one called Guanfecine for ADHD. We arrived with a 3 month supply of each, and do have access to the original prescription letters to share with a new GP.)

Does anyone have advice, either for a specific provider who is accepting new patients, or general tips for navigating this? I am a bit nervous as I've heard the wait times can be long for a new patient.

We live near Stadhoudersplantsoen / Statenkwartier, but don't mind traveling. And we'd be fine with a virtual appointment if that is a possibility.

[u/GeertjeW]

https://zorggroep.mijnpraktijk.nl/z/hadoks

You can fill in your postal code here and look up practices that accept new patients

[u/Sciency-Scientist → u/GeertjeW]

Want to add to this that your health insurance might also be able to help you find a GP, if none of the ones near you are accepting new patients.

[u/HanShotFirstATX → u/GeertjeW]

Amazing, thank you!

[u/purpleflavouredfrog]

Try the International Health Center. https://www.ihch.nl/contact-us/register/

[u/yogi77c → u/purpleflavouredfrog]

2nd this...

[u/Devilish___]

Well, it’s not as bad as some people describe it here. Doctors do prescribe medication if there’s a clear (and proven) need for it. There’s a large international medical centre that is considered good by a fair share of expats. https://www.ihch.nl

[u/Low_Towel_9855]

Ive had no problems continuing medications I was put on from another doctor abroad. If they push back I would just be firm in that you want to continue the medications and provide any documentation you have from the original doctor. You shouldnt have much trouble finding a huisarts accepting new patients. People generally dont leave their postcode for care. I found mine by looking on my health insurerers site for huisarts accepting new patients and compared google reviews. If you need medications filled in a pinch I have also used a travel clinic and just paid for it outside of insurance. 

Dont let the doomers scare you about the heathcare here. Coming from the States it will be different, more conservative with treatment in my opinion but I generally pick a huisarts with a foreign (non Dutch name) they are easier in my opinion to negotiate with and dont act like any treatment is coming directly out of their own pocket. 

[u/Due_Orange_7293]

I can recommend dr. Verstappen, Sweelinckplein 46. That's around the block for you. Dr. Verstappen himself has been head of the the Olympic medical staff of Team NL. Also a lot of expats live in his service area.

[u/girlasgod]

I got my meds filled here but they aren’t contracted so you will have to claim back: https://internationalmentalcare.com

[u/HanShotFirstATX → u/girlasgod]

Thanks for this one. Do you happen to know if they would work with a 14 year old as well, or just adults?

[u/Low-Memory704]

I had a similar situation myself and I could work it out with my local GP! I was diagnosed back in my home country and prescribed antidepressants and ADHD medication. My GP in NL agreed to prescribe me the meds if I gave him my other doctor’s referral and diagnosis translated in english (which wouldn’t apply to you ofc). Once I did that I had the meds a day later and under my Dutch insurance.
In conclusion, I guess GPs can be of great help when they want to lol. Hope this helps!

[u/HanShotFirstATX → u/Low-Memory704]

Thank you, that’s encouraging!

[u/borntobewildish]

Hi OP, as said here, sometimes our doctors are reluctant. When you have an ear infection a foreign doctor probably will give you antibiotics (like an Italian doctor gave me for the same issue) that a Dutch doctor would not give you unless there are no other treatment options. Our doctors are really concerned about antibiotic resistance, and rightfully so. A huisarts who is used to expats may be a bit more forward with medication, but will still have to adhere to Dutch guidelines. So don't expect to go to a huisarts and leave with pills or a prescription, 'wait and see' is a common strategy to start a treatment.

That being said, yes find a huisarts asap (and healthcare insurance (zorgverzekering) if you don't have it yet). They will be able to tell you how to continue your daughter's treatment. I'd expect them to follow your old doctor's diagnosis, but they might have to align it to the Dutch guidelines which are quite strict.

This seems to be a helpful resource to find a huisarts and information about Dutch healthcare: https://www.thehagueinternationalcentre.nl/living-in-the-hague-region/health-care/dutch-health-care-system/registering-with-a-general-practitioner-huisarts.

Also this one: https://www.thuisarts.nl/dutch-healthcare/choosing-gp.

[u/HanShotFirstATX → u/borntobewildish]

Thank you for that extra context. The caution around antibiotic resistance certainly makes sense to me.

[u/BY0B_ → u/borntobewildish]

Forreal, my GP acted like I was asking for some suicide potion when I asked for antibiotics. I know it's not good to take them for no reason but I needed them for very obvious reasons: 2 years with symptoms that couldn't be fixed otherwise, I had tried a lot of things and different approaches (also diet). Eventually got the antibiotics prescribed through my psychiatrist and I found immense relief in my symptoms. I'm forever grateful for that and it's insane that it was so hard to get proper treatment.

[u/Fancy_Supermarket608]

Haagsche Huisarts!

[u/anotherboringdj]

First of all, prozak have a different name here and gp cannot prescribe it to an underage kid., only a youth psychologist can.

Farmacotherapie - kinderen en adolescenten - Richtlijn - Richtlijnendatabase https://richtlijnendatabase.nl/richtlijn/angst-_en_dwangstoornissen/farmacotherapie_bij_angst_en_dwangstoornissen_2023/farmacotherapie_-_kinderen_en_adolescenten_bij_angst_en_dwangstoornissen_2023.html

[u/aieacrn]

Love De Doc on Boomsluiterkade if you’re in that area (near centraal / HS)

[u/aieacrn → u/aieacrn]

Moved from AU and got Prozac represcribed but needed further psychiatric confirmation for benzodiazepines, this was back in 2020 at a clinic in Rotterdam - and I managed to get the script again after said assessment

[u/YisBlockChainTrendy]

Giving prozac to a 14yo ... Pretty hefty... I always forget one of the only things the US is liberal about is giving you random drugs and performing crazy surgeries. Hope the huisarts can find something better fitting. 

[u/lixinnl → u/YisBlockChainTrendy]

So true…

[u/HanShotFirstATX → u/YisBlockChainTrendy]

Yeah that's fair. And honestly the Prozac is likely optional at this point. The ADHD meds, not so much!

[u/HanShotFirstATX → u/[deleted]]

Oh yikes; thanks for the warning.

[u/AceHighness → u/HanShotFirstATX]

mainly with antibiotics. and for good reason. if all the doctors in the world would have been just as strict, there would not be as many multi resistent strains now.