Home Visits Policy
Home visits are reserved exclusively for patients who are housebound or terminally ill, and whose medical condition prevents them from attending the surgery. Please note that we do not provide home visits for children. We understand that there are times when a patient may find it difficult to attend the surgery. We will always consider home visits carefully and will arrange one when clinically appropriate.
However, being unable to get to the surgery easily does not necessarily mean that someone is housebound.
Home visits take considerably longer than appointments at the surgery and the GP has less access to the equipment, records and other members of the healthcare team that are available at the practice. For this reason, it is important that home visits are reserved for patients who genuinely need to be assessed at home.
This allows us to provide timely care to patients who are most clinically vulnerable and helps us make the best use of our limited clinical capacity.
Requesting a Home Visit
Timing: If you require a home visit, please submit your request before 10:30 am whenever possible.
Assessment: Every request will be reviewed by the On-Call GP to determine clinical necessity.
Contact Information: The GP may need to speak with the patient or a relative first. Please ensure we have your up-to-date contact number and that someone is available to answer the call.
What does "housebound" mean?
A patient is generally considered housebound when their illness, disability, frailty or significant mobility problem means that they are unable to leave their home, or can only leave with significant difficulty or a level of risk that makes attending the surgery clinically inappropriate.
Housebound status is based on clinical need rather than age, convenience or transport difficulties.
Someone who is genuinely housebound would normally be unable to attend other routine appointments or activities outside the home, such as hospital outpatient appointments, dental appointments, shopping, social activities or hairdressing.
Housebound status can be temporary or permanent and may be reviewed if a patient's circumstances change.
Who is likely to qualify for a GP home visit?
Examples may include patients who:
· Are permanently or temporarily unable to leave their home because of significant illness, disability or frailty.
· Are bedbound or have severe mobility problems that make leaving the home clinically unsafe or impractical.
· Are receiving end-of-life or palliative care and are unable to attend the surgery.
· Have an acute illness that makes travelling to the surgery clinically inappropriate.
· Have a significant physical or cognitive impairment that prevents them from attending the practice safely.
Each request is assessed individually by a clinician.
Who would normally NOT be considered housebound?
You would not normally be considered housebound if you are able to leave your home with reasonable assistance.
For example, you would generally be expected to attend the surgery if you are able to:
· Leave your home to go shopping.
· Attend the hairdresser or barber.
· Attend social or family activities.
· Attend hospital or outpatient appointments.
· Attend the dentist, optician or other healthcare appointments.
· Go out using your own car, public transport, a taxi or other suitable transport.
· Leave your home with the assistance of a relative, friend or carer.
· Use a wheelchair or other mobility aid to leave the house and travel to an appointment.
Needing somebody to accompany you does not automatically mean that you are housebound.
Similarly, not having access to a car or not having someone available to drive you to the surgery does not, by itself, make you housebound.
Where appropriate, patients should consider whether family, friends, carers, taxis, community transport or other suitable transport options can enable them to attend the practice.
I am elderly. Does this mean I am entitled to a home visit?
No.
Age alone is not a reason for a home visit.
Many older patients are able to attend the surgery safely, sometimes with assistance or appropriate transport. Home visits are reserved for patients whose clinical condition means that attending the surgery is not reasonably possible or appropriate.
We appreciate that mobility can become more difficult with age and will always.
I have difficulty walking. Can I have a home visit?
Not necessarily.
If you are able to leave your home using a walking aid, wheelchair or with assistance from another person, you may still be able to attend the surgery.
If your mobility problem is so severe that you cannot safely leave your home, or doing so would pose a significant risk to your health, please explain this when requesting a home visit so that a clinician can assess your circumstances.
I don't have any transport. Can I request a home visit?
Lack of transport alone is not normally a reason for a GP home visit.
GP home visits are intended for patients who are clinically unable to attend the practice, rather than patients who are unable to arrange transport.
Where possible, please consider whether you can attend using:
· Help from family or friends
· A taxi
· Community or accessible transport
· Public transport where appropriate
· Wheelchair-accessible transport
· Assistance from a carer
If you have a medical condition that genuinely prevents you from travelling, please tell us when you request the appointment.
Warrington Home Visiting Assessment Service
To ensure our housebound patients receive the most efficient care, we utilize the Warrington Home Visiting Assessment Service.
The Team: This service is staffed by experienced GPs and paramedics who conduct medical assessments directly in your home following a referral from our practice.
Collaboration: After the assessment, the visiting clinician will consult with your regular GP to determine the best course of management (e.g., issuing an urgent prescription, arranging further tests, or referring to urgent care).
Continuity of Care: Your own GP remains fully involved in your ongoing medical care. This service simply ensures you are assessed more quickly and effectively should you require urgent intervention.