Home Visits

Forest Health want 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 best for other patients at the practice as well.

You may think that a home visit by a GP is best for patient care. However, while home visits are convenient for the patient, they can offer a poorer standard of care compared to surgery consultations because of:

  • Inadequate facilities – eg. soft beds, poor lighting, lack of privacy.
  • Delayed availability of patient records/information, which are required to provide appropriate and safe care.
  • Patient chaperones, who are required to be present for some examinations, are not always available.

Requesting visits that are inappropriate or unnecessary has a negative impact on other aspects of our service. A clinician could see four to six equally needy patients in the time taken for one home visit.

Examples of when home visits are not appropriate (this list is not exhaustive):

  • The patient is mobile (with or without mobility aids such as a frame or wheelchair).
  • Lack of money or transport, this is unfortunately not a medical problem.
  • Lack of childcare or been drinking alcohol and not able to drive, this is not a medical problem.
  • Can’t get out due to bad weather. Remember that medical staff are also affected by snow, ice or bad weather.
  • Other help may be more appropriate – for example, if you think you are having a heart attack or a stroke, please ring 999.

Examples of when home visits are appropriate:

  • Terminally ill patients.
  • Bedbound patients.
  • So poorly, the patient would be harmed if moved.

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 as early as possible. All home visit requests will be medically assessed (triaged) to check if a visit is appropriate.

The triage clinician will consider your request and ensure you are seen by the most appropriate available health care professional, in the most appropriate location.

An emergency hospital admission may be organised via the ambulance service in cases where symptoms suggest that is the most appropriate course of action.

Please help us to use our resources effectively for the safety and benefit of all patients.

Thank you.