Telephone Advice
The doctors and practice nurses are very happy to give advice and discuss problems over the phone. Generally the receptionists can advise you about telephone consultations; if you leave your details the doctors or nurses will ring back later.
Home Visits
If you are unable to visit the surgery because of your medical condition, please telephone us before 10.00am, and give brief details about your illness to our receptionist. Your message will be passed to the doctor who may visit you at home.
Our 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.
You may think that a home visit by GP 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.
We have noticed that some patients are requesting visits when they can get to hospital appointments with assistance. We request that you view a GP appointment in the same way.
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. |
| I live in a care home. |
Many patients living in care homes still go to hospital outpatients and take trips out. |
| 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 not appropriate
Please note this list only includes some examples, and is not exhaustive.
- Children, young people or anyone who is mobile
- Lack of money or transport. This is not a medical responsibility. It is up to the patient to organise transport
- Lack of childcare or been drinking alcohol and not able to drive. This is not a medical responsibility
- Can’t get out due to bad weather. Remember that medical staff are also affected by snow, ice or bad weather
- Timed visits between hairdressing and shopping appointments. Patients who are clearly mobile are taking doctors and nurses away from patients with greater need
- Feeling well, but need a check over to make sure everything is all right. Our priority is seeing those patients who are unwell.
- Other help may be more appropriate – for example, if you think you are having a heart attack or a stroke, please ring 999.
Where home visits are appropriate and worthwhile but not always by a GP.
- Terminally ill patients are mainly looked after at home, but may not see a GP. This is because specialist palliative care teams are provide care for these patients so there is often no need for a GP to visit.
- Patients so poorly they would be harmed if moved or truly bedbound patients are often in the most clinical need. However a GP may not be the most appropriate clinician to visit and we have other services available such as the community urgent care response team who can provide care and support.
If you think you may need a home visit
If you are poorly and think you may need a home visit, please call us before 10.00am on the day.
- If you are mobile (using walking aids, wheelchair, scooter and with assistance), 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 you via the ambulance service without seeing you in cases where your medical condition makes that course of action appropriate.
Appropriate conditions include: bedbound, terminally ill and would come to serious harm if moved.
Not appropriate reasons include: no transport or money, children, young people and anyone who is mobile, social reasons or for convenience.
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 10.00am. All home visit requests will be medically assessed to check if a visit is appropriate. You will not be able to choose which GP visits you therefore you will not necessarily be seen by your "regular" doctor.
Always provide a current landline/mobile number so that the Doctor or Nurse can contact you.