At our practice, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to all our patients. To help us give the best possible service, we ask that you read this guide on how home visits work and who they are for.
Who is Eligible for a Home Visit?
Home visits are an essential but highly resource-intensive service. They are strictly reserved for patients who are truly housebound or too ill to travel to the surgery.
What does "housebound" mean? A patient is considered housebound if they are unable to leave their home under any circumstances (e.g., they cannot leave the house for a haircut, to socialise, or to go to the shops).
Examples of Valid Reasons for a Home Visit:
- Patients who are bedbound or receiving end-of-life care.
- Patients whose medical condition is so severe that traveling would cause serious medical harm.
Examples of Invalid Reasons for a Home Visit:
- Lack of transport: It is the patient’s or family’s responsibility to arrange transport (via relatives, friends, or local taxi services).
- Childcare issues: We cannot visit adults or children at home because parents or carers do not have childcare for other family members.
- Financial difficulties: Trouble affording a taxi or bus fare is not a clinical reason for a home visit.
Why is it Better to See You at the Surgery?
We understand that coming to the practice can be difficult when you aren't feeling well, but seeing you at the surgery is always the safest and most effective option because:
- Better Facilities: We have specialized equipment, proper examination rooms, and optimal lighting at the clinic.
- Access to Treatments: Many diagnostic tests and treatments can only be safely administered on-site.
- Efficiency: In the time it takes a doctor or nurse practitioner to make one home visit, they could see four to five patients at the surgery. Managing our time carefully allows us to help more people in need.
How to Request a Home Visit
If you believe a home visit is genuinely necessary, please follow these steps:
1. Call Early
Please ring the surgery before 10:30 AM on the day you require the visit. Requesting a visit early helps our clinical team plan their routes and prioritize the most urgent cases.
2. Expect a Call Back (Triage)
All home visit requests are assessed by a clinician first. A doctor or nurse will call you back to discuss your symptoms. They may:
- Give you advice over the phone.
- Arrange for an urgent prescription.
- Decide that it is safe and necessary for you to come to the surgery instead.
- Book you in for a routine or urgent home visit.
3. Be Ready
If a home visit is approved, it may be carried out by a GP, a Nurse Practitioner, or a member of our community team. Because of unpredictable clinical schedules, we cannot guarantee a specific time or a specific doctor for the visit. Please ensure your phone is on, your doorbell is working, and any pets are safely secured in another room.
Urgent vs. Routine Visits
- Routine Visits: These are for ongoing, stable conditions in housebound patients (such as routine reviews or non-urgent symptoms). They are scheduled around our daily clinic commitments.
- Urgent Visits: These are for sudden, severe illnesses that require medical attention that day but are not immediately life-threatening.
🚨 When to Call 999 Instead
A home visit is not an emergency service. If you or a family member experiences any of the following, do not call the GP practice—dial 999 immediately:
- Severe chest pain or breathing difficulties
- Suspected stroke (facial drooping, arm weakness, speech problems)
- Severe, unmanageable bleeding
- Sudden collapse or unconsciousness
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Helping us use our home visit service appropriately ensures that our medical teams can be where they are needed most.