Patients should only request a home visit if they are genuinely housebound and too ill to come to the surgery. A member of our clinical team may call you to discuss your problem. If the decision is made that a visit is necessary this will usually occur after morning or evening surgery.

Where possible, home visit requests should be made before 10:30.

The ability to properly examine the patient and to access computerised records and medical equipment necessary in modern general practice is only available at the surgery. In addition, your doctor can usually see several patients at the surgery in the time that it takes to make a single home visit.

The following guidelines are provided by the Local Medical Committee. GP home visiting makes clinical sense in cases whereby the patient is:

• Terminally ill
• Truly bed bound for whom travel to premises by car would cause a deterioration in their medical condition or unacceptable discomfort.

Home visits are not usual for:

• Children
• Adults with common problems, where the individual could readily be transported by car to a doctor’s premises
• The elderly, except where the individual is truly bed bound.

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.