“There is a fairly wide-held belief that patients have an automatic right to a home visit from a GP within core hours (8am to 6.30pm). This is not in fact the case.

“Practices will reach a “reasonable opinion” about whether to attend to a patient at their residence based upon information received on the condition of the patient, and whether it would be inappropriate to expect the patient to attend the practice premises.

“There is nothing to prevent the GP from arranging for the referral of a patient without first seeing the patient, in cases where their medical condition makes that course of action appropriate.

If a patient is encouraged to come into the surgery, it is often on the basis that this is where the best care can be provided. The specialist equipment is located at the practice, tests can be carried out more easily there, and drugs issued.”  – RCGP

“We make home visits only when it is clinically indicated and the patient is too ill or infirm to attend the surgery.”

When to Request a Home Visit

Call  before 10.30am – 01482 701834

Patients should only request a home visit if they are house-bound, have serious illness and are too poorly to attend the surgery.  Patients with certain severe conditions that can be easily transmitted from person to person may receive special advice on how they may be assessed and treated.

Doctors are very busy and it is possible for them to see several patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do a single home visit. Think carefully before asking for a home visit and consider the available alternatives. Please read information about these on this page.

We understand that it can often be difficult to attend at  the surgery, but we cannot take this into account in most  cases. The needs of ALL patients needs to be taken into consideration and we have to use our judgement on priorities.

So that we can more easily identify urgent cases that may need emergency care at the hospital or are in need of an urgent GP assessment, when you ring for a visit please give as much information as possible. You may find the  following checklist helpful:

Please Tell Us

The caller’s name and contact information

Patient’s name, address, location and contact details


To help prioritise your call please give:

  • When symptoms started
  • List of symptoms
  • How often symptoms being experienced
  • Names and dosages of medication and when taken

Our Response

The call taker will pass all information to the doctor. We may contact you for more information.

One of the following may happen:

  • Ambulance
  • Doctor call-back
  • Visit to assess the patient
  • Self treatment advice
  • Hospital referral
  • A prescription
  • Other advice or action, as appropriate

IF THE PATIENT’S CONDITION WORSENS AFTER YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO US, PLEASE CALL US BACK FOR A REASSESSMENT, CONTACT NHS 111 BY DIALLING 1-1-1 IF THE SURGERY IS CLOSED. IN AN EMERGENCY AT ANY TIME- DIAL 999

Alternatives to requesting a GP Visit

Ring NHS 111

NHS 111 is a new telephone service for people in Yorkshire and the Humber to call if they need medical help fast but are not in a life-threatening situation.

The easy to remember, free to call number is being introduced across England to help reduce the pressure on A & E departments and the 999 service. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, the service is for people who aren’t sure if they need to go to A & E, don’t have a GP to call or generally need reassurance and advice on what to do. You can call 11 when the surgery is closed and you need a doctor or advice.

On dialling 111 a team of fully-trained advisers and experienced staff who will assess your condition and direct you to the local service that can help you best, when you need it.

There are now only three numbers you need to know: your GP surgery, 111 for urgent healthcare advice and 999 for life-threatening emergencies.

AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR  CALLS ARE FREE FROM LANDLINES AND MOBILES

When to use it

You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.

Call 111 if:

  • You need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency.
  • You think you need to go to A & E  or need another NHS urgent care service.
  • You don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call.
  • You need health information or reassurance about what to do next.
  • For less urgent health needs, contact your GP in the usual way.
  • For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999

When you call 111 you will be assessed, given advice and directed straight away to the local service that helps you best. That could be an out of hours doctor, walk-in centre or urgent care centre, community nurse, emergency dentist or late opening chemist.

Consult your local pharmacist

Your local pharmacist is qualified to advise you on how to treat minor illnesses. They can suggest over the counter medication or refer you to a doctor, if necessary.

Emergency Service – Ambulance

If you believe that your condition [or a patients condition] IS serious and an emergency, you should consider calling 999 and requesting an ambulance response.  You could also attend the hospital Accident & Emergency Department. More Information about emergency conditions can be read by clicking HERE.