Home Visits

If you think an immediate home visit is required, please tell the Receptionist. In cases of major injury or critical condition, it may be more appropriate to go directly to your local Hospital Accident & Emergency Department. If an Ambulance is required, dial 999.

We are keen to ensure that we make the best use of our clinical staff, allowing them to provide the most appropriate care to those most in need of it. For the vast majority of patients, attending an appointment at the Practice is the best option for them and for the Practice staff. 

Visits are allocated by our Triage Doctor during the morning, so if it seems likely that a patient is going to need a visit on the day, then we would ask that the Practice is informed as early as possible, ideally before 10.00am

The need for a home visit is a clinical decision and will be made by the Triage Doctor taking the call.

You may think that a home visit by a Doctor is best for patient care. However, while home visits are convenient for the patient, they actually offer a poorer standard of care compared to surgery consultations.

This is because of:

• poor facilities – for example, soft beds, poor lighting or lack of hygiene
• inefficiency – the doctor could see four to six other equally needy patients in the time taken for one home visit
• patient records, which are required to provide appropriate and safe care, are not immediately available; and
• patient chaperones, who are required to be present for some examinations, are not always available.

Calling the doctor out unnecessarily takes the doctor away from patients who may have a greater clinical need. Most of the consultations during home visits could easily and safely be carried out in the surgery. 

Where home visits are not appropriate

Where home visits are appropriate and worthwhile

• Terminally ill patients: we have no problems seeing those who are at most clinical need
• Truly bedbound patients: we have no problems seeing those who are confined to bed
• So poorly, the patient would be harmed if moved: we have no problems seeing those who are at most clinical need.

If you think you may need a home visit

• If you are mobile (own legs, using walking aids, wheelchair or scooter), we kindly ask that you see us in the surgery
• The triage doctor will always consider your request and ensure you are seen by the most appropriate health care professional in the most appropriate location
• An Emergency Hospital admission may be organised for the patient via the ambulance service without first seeing the patient, in cases where their medical condition make that course of action appropriate.

If we visit you at home and feel that your request was inappropriate, we may inform you so that you use our services more appropriately in the future. Please do not be offended, as we have a duty to use our resources effectively for the safety and benefit of all patients.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You may also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.