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GP

References

Referral to a specialist or other healthcare provider

You need a referral from your GP for an appointment with a specialist at the hospital. A referral is only issued after your complaint or health problem has been assessed by the GP during a consultation.

 

For some healthcare providers, such as a physiotherapist, dietitian, or speech therapist, you usually do not need a referral. You can usually make an appointment directly for these.

 

Are you already under the care of a specialist? In that case, a new referral is often not necessary. A new referral may only be required if there is a new complaint unrelated to the existing treatment. If in doubt, please contact your treating specialist; they can assess whether a new referral is needed.

Sometimes another healthcare provider (such as a physiotherapist, hearing aid store, or optician) tells you that you need to see a specialist.

 

Then the following applies:

  • Take the report from the healthcare provider with you to (the appointment with) the GP
  • Or the healthcare provider contacts the general practitioner

The GP will then review with you whether a referral is necessary.

We only perform examinations such as blood tests and other tests on the advice of the general practitioner.

 

We do not conduct research at the request of:

  • other practitioners without medical training
  • commercial companies

This is how we ensure safe and good care.

Without your own assessment, problems can arise, such as:

  • unnecessary risks or side effects
  • uncertainty about who is responsible
  • problems for the doctor regarding the applicable rules

We want to provide safe care for all our patients.

We often use ZorgDomein for referrals.

 

You will then receive the referral via email or SMS.

 

NB:

  • Check if your email address and phone number are correct with us
  • In the email, you will also find further instructions, such as whether you need to make an appointment yourself or if the healthcare provider will call you.

A referral is usually subject to the deductible of your health insurance.

 

Important:

  • The GP does not pay for this
  • The GP does not know how much you pay
  • This varies by insurance policy

Questions? Contact your health insurer.

Statements for work, school, or travel

General practitioners are not allowed to issue medical certificates for their own patients.

 

This is the case according to the rules of the medical organization KNMG.

Why not?

Your own GP is not independent. Therefore, your own GP may not give an opinion on, for example:

  • illness or disability
  • suitability for school or exams
  • statements for work or agencies
  • An independent doctor can perform an assessment
  • An agency can engage a medical advisor itself
  • You are entitled to a printout of your file from your own general practitioner

On the KNMG , you will find an explanation of these rules and what you can do if an organization requests such a declaration anyway.

The municipality may not request a medical certificate from the general practitioner.

What is possible:

  • The municipality engages a GGD doctor or medical advisor
  • They may request information from the general practitioner with your permission

The general practitioner does not issue statements confirming that you are medically fit to travel, play sports, or participate in an activity.

 

This applies, for example, to:

  • fit-to-fly declarations;
  • medical certificates for sports events or other activities;
  • statements for cancellations, insurance, or participation in trips.

You can go to a sports medical advice center, medical examiner, or travel clinic for this. 

 

Specific forms and conditions from the airline often apply to fit-to-fly certificates. Please contact your airline for this.

 

You pay the costs yourself.

Inspections

Driving license medical examination

Are you 75 years or older, or has the Central Bureau for Driving Licenses (CBR) determined that you require a medical examination? Then a driving license medical examination is required for the application or renewal of your driving license.

 

Our general practice does not perform driving licence medical examinations. For this, you can go to an independent examining physician or a specialized examination centre in the region.

 

For more information about the procedure and the conditions, we refer you to the CBR.

 

Please note: the costs of a driving licence medical examination are not reimbursed by the health insurer and are at your own expense.

The general practice does not perform sports medical examinations or other non-medical examinations.

 

For a sports medical examination, you can go to a sports medical advice center or a medical examiner.

 

Please note: the costs for certificates and examinations are generally not reimbursed by the health insurer and are at your own expense.

To travel

Medicines

You are not allowed to simply take some medicines abroad and require a declaration. For example, for medicines for ADHD, strong painkillers, sleeping pills, and sedatives. 

Before applying for a medication declaration, you need to know which declaration you require. This depends on your medication, the country you are traveling to, and the duration of your trip. If you the Medicijnen mee op reis assistance form , you will receive tailored advice and the correct medication declaration.

 

Schengen medical declaration

English-language medication statement

Medical Declaration for Turkey

 

Please note: Fill out the form digitally as completely as possible. Then hand it in to the assistant at the reception desk so that the GP can sign it. The assistant will inform you when the form is ready for collection. Please allow a processing time of 3 working days.

Are you traveling to a distant destination? Then vaccinations may be necessary to protect you against infectious diseases that occur in the country of destination.

 

The vaccinations you need depend on your travel destination, the duration of your stay, and the activities you plan to undertake. Therefore, check well before departure which vaccinations and health precautions are recommended for your trip.

 

You cannot visit the GP practice for travel advice or the administration of travel vaccinations. For this, we refer you to the GGD Travel Vaccinations.

Care and support

Home care (WMO)

Do you need help at home? Then you can apply for this at the municipality.

 

Examples:

  • help around the house
  • transport
  • mobility scooter

Telephone: 0900 1852 (Municipality of Haarlemmermeer) or via the website

In principle, the general practitioner does not need to be involved in this; for more information, see the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer.

You can borrow aids, such as:

  • wheelchair
  • high/low bed
  • shower chair

You can borrow many assistive devices free of charge for up to 26 weeks, as they are reimbursed under the basic package of your health insurance.

 

This can be done via:

  • Medipoint Home Care Store
  • Location Hoofddorp: Raadhuisplein 300, 2132 TZ Hoofddorp
  • Location Haarlem: Stephensonstraat 45, 2014 KC Haarlem
  • Vegro Home Care Store
  • Location Haarlem: Amsterdamstraat 70-72, 2032 PS Haarlem
  • Location Lisse: Vennestraat 13, 2161 LE Lisse

If you require personal care due to a medical condition, this falls under the Health Insurance Act. This includes assistance with showering, getting up, eating, or wound care, stoma care, and administering injections.

 

You can contact home care organizations yourself, such as:

Is there no availability here, or would you prefer a different organization? Then call your health insurer, who has a duty to find another home care organization for you

Do you require lifelong intensive care and nearby supervision due to a disorder or disability? This is regulated by the Long-Term Care Act (Wet Langdurige zorg). Whether you are eligible for this care is determined by the CIZ (Centre for Care Assessment). You can submit an application via: www.ciz.nl

 

Watch the video below for an explanation of the CIZ's working method:

Recording end-of-life wishes / advance directive

For more information, see: thuisarts.nl

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Merel van Nimwegen

  • Merel van Nimwegen is a pediatric physiotherapist. She specializes in treating children with headaches, sensory processing issues, and psychosomatic complaints. Since 2025, Merel has been working on Fridays at the Paramedical Treatment Center for Headaches to treat children under the age of 14 with headaches. Additionally, she works in Heemstede: www.kinderfysio-heemstede.nl.
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Linda Pronk

  • Physiotherapist specializing in the treatment of jaw complaints, headaches, and dizziness. She is also specialized in edema therapy and psychosomatic physiotherapy.
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Veronique Huisman

  • Manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headache complaints. She specializes in dry needling to complement the treatment of neck and headaches. Additionally, she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder complaints.
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Tim Jongejans

  • Manual therapist specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headache complaints. Additionally, he is pursuing scientific training at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences).
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Jasper Flick

  • Manual therapist specializing in treating various forms of dizziness, including the most well-known: BPPV. He also treats patients with headaches, spine-related complaints, and sports injuries.
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Dr. René Castien

  • Manual therapist, senior researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and advisor at the Paramedical Treatment Center for Headache. Obtained a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam based on research into the effectiveness of manual therapy for tension headache. René supervises and coordinates the collaboration on scientific research into headache between VU Amsterdam and the Paramedical Treatment Center for Headache.
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Laura de Kam

  • Manual therapist specializing in treating various forms of dizziness, including the most well-known: BPPV. She also treats patients with neck complaints, with and without headaches.
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Lotte de Fockert

  • Manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headache complaints. She specializes in dry needling of the neck, jaw, and throat muscles to complement the treatment of headache and orofacial complaints. She also treats people with shoulder complaints.
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Andreas Amons

  • Manual therapist specializing in the treatment of patients with headache complaints. At the Department of General Practice of the Amsterdam UMC, he is conducting doctoral research into the effectiveness of manual therapy for migraine.