The Rapid Response Home Visiting Service is designed to provide urgent, same-day clinical home visits for patients at high risk of hospital admission, helping them remain safely at home and avoid unnecessary emergency care.
We commission this service, contracting the delivery of rapid clinical interventions through the Wandsworth GP practices to eligible patients registered with Wandsworth GPs.
We service first commenced in 2014. It was renewed on 1 April 2025 and will run through to 31 March 2026.
The service is delivered collaboratively with several key partners, including:
- London Ambulance Service
- Local nursing and residential care homes
- Older Peoples Liaison Service at St George’s Hospital
- The Acute Admission Avoidance (AAA) pathway
- NHS South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- Wandsworth Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
- Out of Hours providers, NHS111, and local A&E departments
The benefit of the service for patients, include:
- Rapid access to clinical care within 2 hours of referral
- Reduced risk of hospital admission
- Continuity of care through follow-up visits
- The ability to remain in a familiar home environment during acute episodes
The benefits of the service to primary care and the wider healthcare system, include:
- Reduces pressure on emergency departments and ambulance services
- Supports primary care in managing complex patients more effectively
- Enhances integration across health and social care systems
- Provides a structured, reimbursed model for urgent home visits