Crown Medical Practice
Tamworth Health Centre
Upper Gungate
Tamworth, B79 7EA
Telephone: 01827 315355
01827 63873
Fax
Website
www.crownpractice.co.uk
When the surgery is closed call 01827 315355
Crown Medical Practice
The doctors and staff at Crown Medical Practice in Tamworth are proud to offer the highest
standard of patient-centred healthcare.
We run many clinics for the management of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes and
offer a wide variety of other medical services including antenatal and postnatal care, minor
surgery, childhood vaccinations and well-person check-ups.
In addition to everything you need to know about the practice you will also find a wealth of
health-related information in the menu on the right hand side. Please have a look around and do
send us some feedback if you like.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you are unable to keep your appointment or the appointment you have been sent is not
convenient, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU RING AND CANCEL IT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
Please book for your annual seasonal flu jab if you are in any of the following "At Risk" Groups:
Aged 65 and over
Chronic respiratory disease
Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous
exacerbations requiring hospital admission;
chronic heart disease
chronic renal disease
chronic liver disease
chronic neurological disease
Diabetes
Immunosuppression
Pregnant Women
Carers
Reception Opening Times
Telephone lines are open between 8 am and 18.30 pm
Usual doctors/nurse clinics run during the following hours:
Morning
Afternoon
Monday
08.00am - 12.45pm
13.45pm - 18.00pm
Tuesday
08.30am - 12.45pm
13.45pm - 18.00pm
Wednesday
08.30am - 12.45pm
13.45pm - 18.00pm
Thursday
08.30am - 12.45pm
13.45pm - 18.00pm
Friday
08.30am - 12.45pm
13.45pm - 18.00pm
Weekend
closed
closed
There is a early morning Surgery from 7.00 am to 08.30 am on Monday mornings when all
three doctors will see pre-booked patients. This is for routine appointments for those who are
working/commuting and those who are unable to attend during usual opening times.
The early opening times on Monday are for pre-booked appointments only.
When We Are Closed
Patients are advised to contact the GP surgery, where they will be transferred to Staffordshire
Out of Hours Service (BADGER). Patients will either be given medical advice over the
telephone, offered an appointment at a local primary care centre, visited at home if necessary, or
transferred to 999 for an emergency response.
The direct number for the Out of Hours doctors service is
0300 1 30 30 30
NHS Direct
In the case of urgent need when the practice is closed you can call NHS Direct
(www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/) (0845 4647) to speak to a triage nurse. Your needs will be assessed and
advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor.
Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery
re-opens.
Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an
emergency.
Appointments
Please telephone 01827 315355 or call at reception. If you cannot attend as planned, please
inform us.
Please cancel appointments if you are unable to attend. This will then enable us to offer this
appointment to another patient.
Telephone lines are open between 0800 am - 18.30 pm.
Early In the Day
Please note we offer pre-booked appointments from 7.00 am on Mondays.
Access to the surgery prior to 8.30 am is via the side door and an intercom system.
Advance Appointments
We have appointments bookable up to 4 weeks in advance with the doctors and nurses and
urgent ones bookable from 8.00 am.
You can also book a telephone consultation with either a doctor or a nurse.
Home Visits
If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.
A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by
telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a
hospital attendance.
House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or
disability.
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make
one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Health
Centre.
We are presently sending SMS texts for patients who have booked ahead for an appointment the
previous day evening (or Friday in case of Monday appointments). This is to try decrease non
attendences and as a reminder service. The sms just has your name and appointment time. We
may occasionally send sms advising you to call us back ,this is because we cannot send any
confidential information via sms due to risk of interception or being accidentally read by other
parties. You can opt out of the service by informing us in writing or texting no to the consent sms
being sent on/after 14/10/2011.
Kindly contact the Mrs. Penny Levesley the Practice manager at 01827 315355 if you have any
clarifications regarding the same.
Repeat Prescriptions
Patients on regular medication may be given a repeat prescription list. We require 48 hours
notice.
We are happy to receive requests by hand or by post (if a stamped addressed envelope is
enclosed). Prior arrangements can be made with many chemists to collect your prescription for
you so that you can then collect from the chemist when it is dispensed. In certain circumstances
they may deliver them to you at home.
Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying
charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought
it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription
prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
NHS charges
These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
prescriptions are free of charge.
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Prescription (per item): £7.40
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £104.00
3-month PPC: £29.10
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items
in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
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Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line
There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website
(www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx)
Please allow 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed.
Any problems please telephone the surgery.
Clinics & Services
Clinics
We hold a number of clinics which include: (ALL BY APPOINTMENT ONLY)
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diabetes
asthma
coronary heart disease
cytology
ante-natal
Child Health Surveillance
Child health surveillance and immunisation clinics are every Tuesday from 09.40 am.
Registration
How to Register as a Patient
You will be asked to see the practice nurse and complete a questionnaire before we take
responsibility for your medical care. We will need your completed Medical Card if possible.
Choice of GP
You can see any doctor in the practice as you are registered with the practice.
Practice Area
Registering Online
Online 'pre-registration' with the practice
If you wish to pre-register click on the link below to open the form. When you have completed
all of the details, click on the "Send" button to mail your form to us. When you visit the surgery
for the first time you will be asked to sign the form to confirm that the details are correct.
Pre-registration Form
When you register you will also be asked to fill out a medical questionnaire. This is because it
can take a considerable time for us to receive your medical records. There is an online version of
this file too, which you may fill out and send to us. When you come to the surgery you will be
asked to sign this form to confirm that the details are correct.
Online medical questionnaire for new patients
Note that by sending the form you will be transmitting information about your self across the
Internet and although every effort is made to keep this information secure, no guarantee can be
offered in this respect.
Alternatively you may print off a registration form, fill it out and bring it in with you on your
first visit to the practice.
Registration Form
Staff Details
Doctors
Dr Margaret M Standen
MB BCH BAO DCH
Dr Stephan T Benkert
MD MRCGP DRCOG DTM&H
Dr Paul Joshi
MB BS
Nurses
Sister Diane Price
Sister Sue Challinor
Healthcare Assistants
Mrs Holly Fitzsimons
Healthcare Assistant
Practice Management
Mrs Penny Levesley
Administration
Mrs Caroline Kelly
Irene
Carol
Elaine
Reception
Sandra
Tracey
Secretary
Community Midwives
Mrs Julie Ryan
Attached Staff
We also have access to district nurses, midwives and health visitors.