It is important that we use the time and skills of our team as efficiently as we can to help all our patients that need our care.
We expect patients of all ages to attend the surgery to receive this care, on a routine or urgent basis, when they can. Sometimes patients are too ill to leave their home and at these times we will carefully consider whether a home visit or other arrangement is needed, to provide that care.
Some of our patients are noted as being housebound. Housebound patients are likely to need full ambulance support to transport them to hospital appointments or when being admitted to hospital.
Housebound patients are unable to leave their home, so cannot shop, attend social events or hairdressing appointments. If patients are able to leave their home for these routine activities, then whilst they are able, we expect them to attend the surgery for their appointments, too.
We will be reviewing our list of housebound patients over the coming months and a historic visit for routine care, does not necessarily mean that you will be classed as permanently housebound for all ongoing routine care needs. We trust, you will understand that to continue to provide safe, timely and caring medical services to our most vulnerable patients we must carefully consider how to maximise our use of resource and we must work together to make the most of the services we have.