Home Visits

Please call us before 10:30am if you are unwell and think you need a home-visit.

If you think you may need a home visit:

At Newhills, we are keen 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.

Home visits are only available to palliative or housebound patients, where clinically appropriate

You may think that a home visit by a GP is best for patient care. However, home visits can be a more restrictive method of consulting and clinical decision making. This is due to:

  • Inadequate facilities – for example, soft beds, lighting or access to diagnostic equipment
  • Inefficiency – the doctor could see four to six other patients in the time taken for one home visit
  • Access to medical records are required to provide appropriate and safe care. These are not immediately available.
  • Chaperones may be required for some examinations, and they are not accessible on home visits

We have noticed that some patients are requesting visits that are inappropriate or unnecessary. This has a negative impact on our patients and other aspects of our service.

Some myths about home visits

Myth:Fact:
It’s my right to have a home visit.Under the GP contract, it is up to the doctor to decide, in their reasonable opinion, where a consultation should take place.
I should get a visit because I’m elderly.  Our clinical work does not judge based on age alone.
I can’t bring my child out in this weather. Environmental condition is not an appropriate reason for a home visit.
The doctor needs to check I’m ready to go into hospital.Paramedics provide initial lifesaving care, and patients will be cared for appropriately in emergency departments if admission is deemed necessary.
Can the GP just pop in to see me?We have fully booked surgeries and cannot simply drop everything to visit people at home.

Where home visits are not appropriate:

Please note this list only includes some examples, and is not exhaustive.

  • Children, young people or anyone who is mobile
  • Lack of money or transport. This is not a medical responsibility. It is up to the patient to organise transport
  • Lack of childcare or having been drinking alcohol and not able to drive. This is not a medical responsibility
  • Can’t get out due to bad weather.
  • Timed visits between hairdressing and shopping appointments. Patients who are clearly mobile are taking inappropriately requesting home visits.
  • Other help may be more appropriate – for example, if you think you are having a heart attack or a stroke, please ring 999.

Where home visits are appropriate:

  • Palliative Care
  • Bed-bound patients

If we visit you at home and feel that your request was inappropriate, we may inform you so that you use our services more appropriately in the future. Please do not be offended, as we have a duty to use our resources effectively for the safety and benefit of all patients.

You do not have an automatic right to a home visit.
GPs are required to consider home visits for medical reasons only. All home visit requests will be triaged to assess whether it is appropriate.