Home visits

Requests for emergency visits take priority at all times. For a home visit please telephone before 10.30am so that the doctors have enough time to arrange their visits in order of priority and avoid unnecessary delays.

Home visits are for people whose illness renders them truly housebound.

Typical examples of home visits are for people who are:

  • Terminally ill
  • Elderly and infirm
  • Where the journey to the surgery would exacerbate their condition, for example a severe disc prolapse

For most other conditions doctors expect patients to be seen in the surgery as the doctors may need equipment for examination, which would not be available at home. When requesting a home visit, it is necessary to leave a contact telephone number.

Please bear in mind that emergency appointments are offered each day.

The doctor can see four or five patients in surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit.

Sick children will be seen as quickly as possible in surgery. It does not harm a child to be brought to the surgery warmly wrapped up unless they are extremely ill. You can telephone the surgery for advice.