If you are poorly and think you need an urgent same day visit, please call us before 10am on the day if possible. All visit requests will be triaged by the duty Doctor.
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 or to call 999 directly.
Our GP Practice is 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. There are several reasons why home visiting is less efficient than consulting in the surgery:-
- poorer facilities – for example, inadequate lighting, less privacy
- time – 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.
Some myths about home visits
| Myth | Fact |
| It’s my right to have a home visit. | Under the GP terms of service, it is actually up to the doctor to decide, in their reasonable opinion, where a consultation should take place. |
| I should get a visit because I’m old. | Our clinical work does not judge based on age alone. |
| I can’t bring my child out in this weather. | No-one will be harmed by being wrapped up and brought in to the surgery. |
| The doctor needs to check I’m ready to go into hospital. | Paramedics can provide initial lifesaving care, and patients will be cared for appropriately in emergency departments. |
| I’m housebound. | Being housebound does not always prevent use of transport. |
| Can the GP just pop in to see me? | We have fully booked surgeries and cannot simply drop everything to visit people at home. |
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.
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should 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.
Remember: you do not have an automatic right to a home visit
Under their terms of working, GPs are required to consider home visits for medical reasons only. If you think you require a home visit, please call the surgery before 10am. All home visit requests will be medically assessed to check if a visit is appropriate.
Always provide a current landline/mobile number so that the Doctor or Nurse can contact you.