Marseille health officials urge calling 15 before non‑urgent ER visits in summer

During the summer months, emergency departments in Marseille experience heightened pressure from vacation‑related patient flows and heat‑wave incidents. To prevent saturation and ensure rapid care for the most serious cases, health authorities recommend that people call the emergency number 15 before going to an emergency room.

The call connects callers to the Service d’accès aux soins (SAS), a collaboration between city‑based physicians and hospital teams. The SAS assesses the situation and either directs the patient to immediate hospital care or arranges a visit with a local doctor within 24–48 hours for non‑urgent conditions, helping to keep emergency resources available for critical cases.