The two hospitals previously alternated their emergency shifts for the centre region of Luxembourg. In the south, the Centre hospitalier Emile Mayrisch operates an emergency room while the Centre hospitalier du Nord covers the north of the country.

“It’s a fundamental right of each citizen to have access to quality healthcare, especially in moments when they are most in need,” said health minister Paulette Lenert (LSAP) in a statement.

The doubling up between 7am and 5pm on weekdays aims to reduce waiting times for patients visiting the emergency room, the health ministry said. Both hospitals have also set up procedures specific to patients presenting with symptoms of contagious diseases, the ministry said.

A 2017 audit had shown that emergency cases take between 1.5 to nearly 4 hours to be treated.

Ahead of the reform, a group of Luxembourg emergency medical practitioners (SLMU) had warned that hospitals could face difficulties adequately staffing both emergency rooms at the same time.

Psychiatrists on the other hand say the change will mean practitioners will have to close their offices more frequently in order for both emergency rooms to be staffed with expert doctors in their field.

In addition to the country’s emergency rooms, there are three so-called Maison médicales in Luxembourg City, Esch-sur-Alzette and Ettelbruck. These provide generalist care out of hours that doesn’t require a trip to the hospital.

The centres in Luxembourg and Esch are in the process of being relocated to accommodate more patients and improve care.