Home visits take up considerable time and are performed at the discretion of the doctors. Therefore, visits are only for patients who are genuinely housebound and for patients who are acutely bed bound/housebound due to acute illness or sudden severe illness, e.g. severe chest pain or shortness of breath.

The latter will be assessed by a doctor, as the most appropriate response may be to order an emergency ambulance.

To book a home visit, please telephone before 10:00 so that the duty doctors can plan their journey. If you are well enough to go out of the house, you should not expect a home visit.

Emergency requests for visits will be accepted at any time of the day. The receptionist will ask you for a brief description of the patient’s symptoms and then may consult with a doctor or nurse who will assess the degree of urgency. The doctor may telephone you to advise you.