Home Visit Services

To be eligible for a home visit, patients must:

• Be housebound due to ill health or have impaired mobility; be unable to manage everyday tasks such as grocery and shopping errands; and have no support person to provide transport to a collection centre to be eligible for a home visit.
• A request for a home visit must be made by the referring medical practitioner or nurse practitioner – not the patient, their caregiver or relative.
• Any changes to a home visit request must be communicated to us by the referring medical practitioner or nurse practitioner – not the patient / caregiver or relative
• Bookings are restricted to patients living within a 20km radius of the nearest Awanui Labs collection centre.
• Bookings will not be accepted for patients requiring restraint unless assistance is available.

• Requests for a home visit must be made by the referring medical practitioner or nurse practitioner – not the patient, caregiver or relative.
• The home visit request form must not be given to the patient to present.
• Please make requests for a home visit at least 24 hours in advance of the requested booking day (Tuesday to Friday). Requests for a Monday must be made by 5pm on the preceding Thursday to allow for scheduling.
• We require the Home Visit Coordinator to be notified if there are any particular specifications with regard to the testing e.g. fasting or drug levels.
• Fill in Lab Request Form and email to hbayhomevisit@awanuilabs.co.nz and phone 06 872 6450

• To make an Urgent Request, please phone 06 872 6450
• Note: These requests must be clinically urgent.

• Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays) 7.30am – 4.00pm.
• Note: It is not possible to arrange a set time for a home visit.

• If the patient is not home when we call, Awanui Labs reserves the right to request the patient to attend one of our collection rooms in the area.
• Patients or caregivers should inform their referring medical practitioner or nurse practitioner as soon as possible if circumstances change that could affect their eligibility for a home visit e.g. patient admitted to hospital etc.
• The medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must contact Awanui Labs as soon as possible should there be any changes to their patient’s requirements.
• Patients who are considered to no longer require home visits will be discharged from the service after consultation with the referrer.

• We require a rest home staff member to be available to assist with identification as many patients are unable to self-identify.
• The rest home visit will not proceed if the Phlebotomist is not able to positively identify the patient.

• Patients must ensure that all pets are restrained and that the mobile Phlebotomist can safely gain access to the patient’s home.
• Patients not home at the time of a visit will be advised to contact their referring medical practitioner or nurse practitioner as soon as possible to avoid the cancellation of their home visit. A letter will be sent to the referrer to confirm that home visits are still required for the patient.
• The home visit will not proceed if the Phlebotomist is not able to positively identify the patient.
• Patients who are unable to effectively communicate their identification, e.g. non-English speaking, must provide photo ID or have a support person present who can provide identification.