Information about Home visits and waiting times- IMPORTANT please share this information

Posted on November 19th, 2024

Information about Home visits and waiting times- IMPORTANT please share this information

There seems to be a lot of misinformation about visits and waiting times going round in Ludlow at the moment.

We would like to reassure our patients that we have NEVER stopped home visits even throughout Covid lockdowns and we are always more than happy to visit patients if they are HOUSEBOUND.

In addition thanks to our campaign to improve access in the winter our current waiting times for appointments with most clinicians including most doctors is LESS THAN A WEEK and this has been the case for many months now.

HOUSEBOUND VISITS

If you think you need a home visit them please telephone the Surgery before 10:30am. on the day you need your visit and give the Receptionist as much information as possible, so that the Doctor can give the request appropriate priority.

Home visits are usually for patients who are completely housebound such as terminally ill patients or patients who are very frail and elderly and too unwell to come to the Surgery. If you usually go for appointments to your dentist, optician or go out shopping or to the hairdressers with transport by a relative or friend or by public transport or taxi then you would not normally be eligible for a home visit unless you are very unwell in an emergency.

A doctor or nurse may call you back to see if your problem can be dealt with over the telephone. If appropriate you may be visited by a nurse instead of a doctor to visit you or we may arrange a district nurse to visit you instead. If we feel the medical problem is urgent we may call 999 or arrange a hospital attendance for you.

Appointments at the surgery are usually quicker for the patient, and we have better facilities to treat you such as better equipment or additional tests we can do at the practice. It is appreciated if patients can attend Surgery if at all possible.

WAITING TIMES

URGENT “Book on the day” Appointments- Waiting times are less than a day.
If your problem is URGENT (but not life-threatening ), then CALL the practice a receptionist will add you to the duty dr or duty nurse urgent telephone call list and the Duty Clinician will call you back usually within a few hours.

FOLLOW UP/ROUTINE or planned clinics “Book next available appointment” Appointments- Waiting times are currently less than 2 weeks for most follow up or planned clinics. You can only book a month in advance of your appointment at Portcullis.
If you are asking for a Follow up appointment about a problem you have already spoken to a specific clinician our aim would be to see you within 2-4 weeks.
Send us an online message on the following link: https://florey.accurx.com/p/M82043
or call us and our reception team will be happy to help you. For semi-urgent appointments call the practice ideally after 2pm
or come to the front desk and fill in a form with your request.
You can also book online on the NHS app or Patient Access App. (see below)

For more information about appointments visit our website

https://portcullis-surgery.co.uk/how-can-i-book-an-appointment/