Home visits are a vital part of general practice, but they are not a convenience service. They are reserved for patients who are genuinely housebound or too unwell to travel to the surgery. If you need a home visit, the key is to contact your GP practice as early in the day as possible. This article explains who qualifies, how to make the request, and what to expect.

Who is eligible for a home visit?

A home visit is for patients who cannot reasonably attend the surgery. This usually means:

• Housebound patients – those who cannot leave home without significant help, due to illness, disability, or frailty.
• Patients who are seriously unwell – for example, with a high fever, severe breathing difficulties, or a sudden deterioration in a long-term condition.
• Patients at the end of life – where care is focused on comfort and avoiding unnecessary travel.

It is not for minor ailments such as a cold, a mild rash, or a routine medication review. If you can get to the surgery with a little help from a friend or relative, or by taxi, that is usually the better option. Home visits take a GP out of the practice for a long period, reducing appointments for everyone else. If you are unsure whether you qualify, it is still worth calling. The reception team can advise you, and the GP may decide a visit is appropriate after hearing more.

How to request a home visit

Call your surgery as soon as you can after opening – ideally before 10am. Early requests allow the GP to plan their day and fit the visit in after morning surgery. When you call, be ready to give:

• Your full name, date of birth, and address.
• A contact phone number.
• A clear description of the symptoms – what is wrong, when it started, and how it is affecting the patient.
• The reason the patient cannot come to the surgery.

The receptionist may ask questions. They are not being nosy; they are helping the GP decide the urgency. Be honest and specific. For example, "My mother is 88 and has severe arthritis. She has a chest infection and is too breathless to get to the car" is more useful than "She's not well."

You may be offered a telephone or video consultation first. This is common and can often resolve the problem without a visit. If the GP agrees a visit is needed, they will tell you roughly when to expect it. Do not turn up at the surgery asking for a home visit in person. This delays care for others and may not be passed to the GP promptly.

What happens after you request a visit

The GP will triage your request. That means they will review the information and decide on the best course of action. They might:

• Call you back for more details.
• Arrange for another clinician, such as a paramedic, nurse, or pharmacist, to visit.
• Prescribe medication over the phone and ask a relative to collect it.
• Agree to a home visit, usually later that day.

Home visits are not an emergency service. If the patient has severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or signs of a stroke, call 999 immediately. For urgent advice when the surgery is closed, call NHS 111.

Preparing for the home visit

Once a visit is arranged, a little preparation helps everyone. Try to:

• Write down the patient's symptoms, when they started, and any changes.
• Have a list of all current medications, including doses and any allergies.
• Clear a path to the patient's room and make sure there is somewhere for the GP to sit.
• Secure pets, especially dogs, in another room.
• Ask a relative or carer to be present if the patient is confused or hard of hearing.

It is also helpful to have a pen and paper ready. You may want to note down what the GP says or any instructions for follow-up. If the patient has a contagious illness, let the surgery know when you request the visit so the GP can take precautions.

When the surgery is closed

If you need urgent medical help outside normal hours, do not wait for the surgery to open. Call NHS 111 for advice. They can arrange for an out-of-hours GP to visit if necessary. For life-threatening emergencies, always call 999.

Remember that home visits are a limited resource. Using them appropriately ensures that the patients who need them most can receive care. If you are unsure whether a visit is needed, call your surgery and ask. The reception team and GP will guide you.