Anesthetists in Germany have appealed to people not to go to the emergency room with every "minor illness" on the holidays. The German Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) called for this in a message on Christmas Eve.

DGAI President Frank Wappler was quoted as saying that people should think carefully about whether they shouldn't be responsible for treating certain minor "ailments" at home at Christmas and at the turn of the year. "This means that the hospitals can be kept free for those who really have a serious illness and need urgent help." Anesthetists often work in intensive care units or as emergency doctors in the rescue service.

The clinics have been overloaded for weeks because of the many patients with respiratory infections and many diseases in the treating teams. "We all have to do our part to ensure that this situation doesn't get any worse over the Christmas holidays," warned Wappler. Emergency services and acute care over the holidays are secured.