What is the definition of housebound?
“A patient who is deemed to be housebound when they are unable to leave their home environment through physical or psychological illness. A patient is not considered housebound if he or she is able to leave their house with minimal assistance or support. For example: unassisted/assisted visit to the doctor, dentist, hairdresser, supermarket, social events or hospital outpatients.
Some practices may not be housebound permanently but rather are housebound temporarily as a consequence of an episode of illness”.
Minimal assistance would be described as a person who can leave their own home and travel to a clinic appointment in a vehicle such as a personal car, taxi or public transport adapted for their use or not and with or without the use of a wheelchair either by themselves or with an escort.
To avoid confusion any person who requires a specialist vehicle (Ambulance) or a two person escort would be regarded as housebound.
To avoid further confusion a person will not be regarded as housebound because they do not personally have a companion to escort them to a clinical appointment.