People are usually housebound because they are very ill, frail or have a chronic illness or disability that makes leaving the house almost impossible. Lack of transport is not the problem it used to be as there is much more voluntary transport available to take people to the doctors or to clinics (see our Transport page).
For those patients who cannot leave the house to visit the doctor or nurse we do provide a domiciliary (home visiting) service.
District Nurses visit housebound patients to give nursing care - see District Nurses’ page.
Practice Nurse Antoinette Ward visits housebound patients for annual reviews of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and breathing/chest problems. This review usually includes blood and urine tests, blood pressure measurement and discussion about managing the condition. Antoinette also does a general needs assessment with the patient, looking at general wellbeing, how people are managing with bathing, dressing, meals etc. and whether they would benefit from aids or adaptations like a raised toilet seat or a bath lift for example. She also discusses benefits with patients, particularly disability benefits.
We offer a similar assessment for patients who have a disability and are housebound. Antoinette can visit them on request and talk through a number of concerns with suggestions for referrals or possible solutions.
The doctors visit housebound patients for regular reviews of their care and medication, and of course on request when someone is ill and can’t come to the surgery.