Home Visits

If you require a home visit we encourage you to phone where possible, before 10.30am so that the visits for the day can be planned efficiently.

Chest pain, shortness of breath, stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty) and loss of consciousness are emergencies please dial 999 if you are displaying any of these symptoms.

Visiting will normally take place early afternoon. Please only request home visits if you are incapable of attending the surgery. Whenever possible, try and come into the surgery as facilities here are far better for examination and treatment. It helps us to judge the urgency of the call if you describe the symptoms. The receptionists are trained to deal with your call so do expect to be asked. All information is confidential. The doctor will telephone prior to, or instead of, visiting.

Children

Sick children will always be seen as soon as possible if brought into the surgery; it is not appropriate to wait for a visit. We rarely visit children at home as a responsible adult should be available to bring them to the surgery.

Our home visiting policy

• You cannot insist that a GP visits you at home.
• A GP will only visit you at home if they are satisfied that your medical condition requires it. A GP can also decide how urgently a visit is needed.
• Due to increasing demand GPs can no longer automatically visit any patient who requests a home visit. All visits must now be triaged and dealt with according to clinical need.
• GPs are better able to assess patients in the surgery where they have access to specialist equipment, good lighting and examination facilities and therefore it is always the preferable site for any consultation.
• GPs having to visit inappropriate house call patients are delayed from visiting those patients who are in genuine need of a visit and therefore this poses an unacceptable clinical risk.
• GPs are not responsible for ensuring that a patient has financial means to attend the surgery nor that the patient chooses to register with a practice that is difficult for them to get to in bad weather or without a car.
• GPs are not obliged to visit a patient if they have assessed the patient's clinical need on the telephone and are satisfied that they are suitable for an alternative method of healthcare.
• As long as the GP has provided a plan for a patient (which may be an appointment the same day, a future day, telephone advice or attendance at another healthcare site such as A&E or a message communicated via reception) then the partners of Glebe Medical Practice will support any such decision made.