Housebound Policy

  1. ‘1. Who is eligible for a home visit
    Patients attending appointments in person at the practice is our preference, because it allows for better facilities for examination and treatment, and there is more staff support available. Due to the time-consuming nature and staff safety risks involved, home visits are therefore reserved for adult patients who are severely or terminally ill and who therefore cannot mobilise to attend an appointment at the practice.
     
    Whether or not a patient is considered housebound will be decided by a clinician at the practice. If a patient is assessed as housebound, this will be recorded and coded in their medical records. Our Care Coordinator will check our housebound list regularly throughout the year to ensure it is up to date.  
     
    We can only offer home visits to patients who live within our practice catchment area – M15 or M16.
     
    If you live outside our catchment area but choose to stay registered with us, you will need to arrange your own transport to attend the practice appointments – just as you would for a hospital appointment.
     
    Due to busy appointment books and schedules, it is not possible to arrange home visits for a specific time; you will normally be given around a 4-hour range during which the clinician’s visit is likely to take place.
     
    2. Urgent (same-day) home visit requests
    Requests for urgent home visits must be made by 12:00 midday, either via our online appointment system, over the phone, or at the front desk. The home visit request can be submitted by the patient, a family member, or a carer, if they are named as a contact on the patient’s medical record with the patient’s consent. This is to ensure that the clinical team can plan their workload appropriately and avoid any disruptions.
     
    This does not guarantee a home visit will take place on the same day, but it does mean your request will be reviewed (triaged) by a clinician. Based on this review, the most appropriate appointment will be arranged, or signposting information may be shared. If requests are made after 12:00, we may need to direct you to alternative services.
     
    3. Routine or follow-up visit requests
    These can be requested at any time via our online appointment system, over the phone, or at the front desk.
    We aim to book these within 2 to 4 weeks.’