How GP Care Works in Care Homes – A Guide for Families

There’s a lot to think about when your loved one moves into a care home, including what happens with their medical care.

You’re likely wondering whether your loved one will still see their GP, attend hospital appointments and receive treatment from other healthcare professionals when needed.

This guide explains how GP care works in care homes alongside a resident’s care plan, so you can feel confident in your loved one’s care.

Keeping or Changing GP After Moving Into a Care Home

Your loved one might be able to keep the same GP when they move into a care home.

This usually comes down to location, meaning if their new home is still within their current GP surgery’s area, there would be no reason to change.

But if the care home is outside the practice area, your loved one will usually register with a local GP. Care home staff can help arrange this and make sure important information, including current medication and existing health conditions, is available to the new surgery.

The healthcare setup can also differ from one care home to another. Some have on-site GPs who visit the home regularly, so residents can have check-ups, medication reviews or appointments without travelling to the surgery.

When choosing a care home for your loved one, ask about GP arrangements, especially if your loved one already has regular appointments or needs ongoing medical treatment for a chronic condition.

When a Resident Needs to See a GP

Many care home residents have long-term health conditions that need regular input from their GP. For example, a resident with diabetes will likely need many blood tests and medication reviews, while COPD can require changes to treatment if breathing problems become worse. GPs can also help manage heart disease, arthritis and other chronic illnesses, escalating to more specialist care when needed.

Residents with dementia will also need GP care if there is increased confusion, a change in behaviour or suddenly eating much less, which can indicate that a resident is unwell. Care home staff can record these changes and contact the GP if they are concerned.

Care staff can help GPs with their useful clinical observations, such as a raised temperature or an unusual blood pressure reading. The GP can use this information to decide whether the resident needs to be examined, have further tests or start treatment.

GP involvement in care homes likely continues after an illness or hospital stay, particularly if any medication has changed or the resident needs follow-up care. Staff can keep an eye on how the resident is recovering and contact the GP again if there are concerns.

If their health changes quickly, staff can act on the level of medical attention needed at the time. This may mean contacting the GP for an urgent assessment or seeking emergency medical help if the resident becomes seriously unwell.

Other Healthcare Professionals Who Support Care Home Residents

A resident’s healthcare may involve several professionals alongside their GP.

Some of the professionals residents may see include:

• District nurses visit the care home to provide nursing care that requires specific clinical skills, such as wound care, changing dressings, giving injections, catheter care, monitoring pressure sores and supporting residents with certain long-term conditions.
• Physiotherapists can assess mobility and help residents regain strength after an illness, injury after a fall or hospital stay. They also recommend exercises that staff can support between appointments.
• Occupational therapists look at how a resident is coping with everyday activities. They will recommend equipment or changes to make tasks safer and easier if mobility or physical ability has changed.
• Pharmacists can review medicines and identify issues such as unwanted side effects, possible interactions or medicines that may no longer be needed.
• Specialist healthcare teams become involved when a resident has more complex needs. This could include dementia and older adult mental health services, diabetes teams or palliative care specialists.

Healthcare After Moving Into a Care Home

Your loved one may see several healthcare professionals while living in a care home, especially if they have an existing condition or their health changes.

The care home becomes an important link between the resident and the GP, hospital teams and any specialists involved in their treatment.

Before choosing a home, find out how healthcare works there in practice, because knowing these arrangements beforehand means fewer unknowns when your loved one moves in and you’ll know who to speak to when you have questions about their healthcare.