Home visits are for either terminally ill patients, or truly bed bound patients in whom to travel to surgery premises by car would cause deterioration in their medical condition or unacceptable discomfort. In cases of common childhood symptoms including fevers, colds, coughs, earache, headache, diarrhoea/vomiting and most cases of abdominal pain, patients are almost always well enough to travel by car. The old wives tale that it is unwise to take a child out with a fever is untrue, and although these children may not be fit enough to travel by bus, or walk to the surgery, car transport is a sensible option and usually available from friends, relatives or taxi.
If a home visit is needed, please contact the surgery before 10:30.
Doctors do home visits after they have finished morning surgery and will arrange their visits according to the degree of urgency. Normally the doctors will contact the patient prior to visiting and encourage patients to attend the surgery, where possible, as we have more facilities available. Difficulty in getting to the surgery is not a valid reason for requesting a home visit, and this may be declined.
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.
