PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(10 February 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out the agreed definition of being housebound that is used by the NHS; and under what circumstances is a person's status from being classed as housebound.

Asked by:
Patrick Spencer (Conservative)

It is the responsibility of the commissioner to ensure patients registered with a general practice (GP) have access to urgent care when they are at home and unable to attend the practice they are registered with.

Under the GP Contract, GPs are required to provide services to a patient outside of practice premises, for instance via a home visit, in instances where the practice considers that a consultation is required, and it would be inappropriate for the patient to attend the practice.

Commonly, a patient is considered housebound if they cannot leave their home environment due to physical or psychological illness.

Answered by:
()