Housebound Patients and Home Visits

A patient is considered housebound if they are confined to their home due to a serious illness or disability.

General Rule for Home Visits If a patient is well enough to leave their home to go to the optician, dentist, hairdresser, or visit friends and family, they are generally considered able to attend an appointment at the surgery. Please note that a lack of transportation is not a valid reason for a home visit. The final decision on whether a home visit is required is at the discretion of a GP, based on medical need.

How to Request a Home Visit

If you need to request a home visit, please call the surgery before 10:30 AM.

When you call, our reception staff will ask you for:

• Your phone number
• A brief and specific reason for your request

Your request will be assessed based on medical need, and we’ll arrange for the most appropriate care, which may include a home visit, a remote consultation, or advice over the phone.

Important Information

• Home visit requests are prioritized by medical urgency.
• Due to the high volume of requests, we cannot provide an exact time for a visit.
• If a home visit is deemed necessary, you will be seen by a clinician, who may not necessarily be a GP.