Home Visits

Introduction

When the NHS was conceived in 1948 the home visit was an essential and integral part of general practice. This state of affairs stayed pretty much unchallenged and unchanged until the last 5 years or so. Recently it has been increasingly recognised nationally that the doctor's time is poorly utilised doing home visits to patients who can and should attend the surgery. Moreover the surgery is far better equipped and suitable for the doctor to examine the patient and make a proper diagnosis.

So in line with 21st century general practice we have embraced the concept of minimal home visits. We will still continue to visit the terminally ill and patients in nursing homes. With very few exceptions all other patients will be expected to attend the surgery. Children with coughs and colds, who used to get home visits will now be expected to attend. There is certainly no harm done bringing your child with a fever to the surgery - the cool air outside might even help the fever!

So you still think you need a home visit?

If you do have a condition which you feel warrants a home visit please request one with the receptionist. Please give the receptionist as much detail as possible about your condition. Please note that it is up to the clinician to decide whether you should be seen at home or attend the surgery. The doctor will usually telephone you back to discuss your condition before attending. He may decide that your condition is more appropriately treated by issuing a prescription.

Please request your home visit before 10.30 am. This is so that the doctor can prioritise his calls. It is our aim to complete the visit within 2 hours of your call. If you have a less urgent call which is requested in the afternoon then we may choose to visit you the next working day.

If your call is deemed by the clinician to be an emergency (see Emergencies), we may decide to call a 999 ambulance for you instead. Certain conditions (e.g. chest pain, accidents, recurrent seizures, very ill infant) need to be attended to immediately, so it is inappropriate to wait for the doctor to call at your home. You may choose to make the 999 call yourself.

Need a home visit when we are closed?

The Out of Hours (OOH) service works by the same principles that we do, i.e. minimal home visits. Please see the section "When closed".

 

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