GP Appointments
At Crown Medical Centre all patients have a named GP. This is because the evidence shows that being looked after by the same GP improves the care you receive and is welcomed by both patients and doctors alike.
To book a routine face to face or telephone appointment with your usual GP please either submit an econsult or telephone the surgery.
Many primary care problems are suitable to wait for a routine appointment, and we encourage you to wait to see your usual GP if you can however, we do have access to other healthcare professionals who can see you regarding medication queries, musculoskeletal issues, and mental health problems. It might be that reception ask you to see these highly trained professionals as an alternative to seeing your GP and the wait to see these people can be less.
We have introduced an Urgent Care Team to deal with urgent issues. If you believe you have an Urgent medical issue, please contact the surgery by telephone. Our receptionist team is highly trained and by asking relevant clinical questions will direct you to the most appropriate member of the primary care or community pharmacy teams.
We hope you will find the following Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ)s useful in understanding how to contact the surgery and why we have made these changes.
Why have you changed your appointment system?
Over recent years the demand for primary care appointments has exceeded capacity. We wish to ensure that we make the best use of the resources available to help as many people as possible.
Why should I answer questions by the receptionists?
Our receptionists are highly trained and adhere to strict confidentiality rules. They use triaging tools to ensure you get the correct help. There are now a wide range of primary care professionals who may be able to help you including community pharmacists via the CPCS scheme (a pharmacy referral scheme), paramedics, nurses, a clinical pharmacist, a mental health practitioner, a first contact musculoskeletal practitioner, care co-ordinators and Occupational Therapists, all working closely with the GPs.
Why do you recommend using e consults to request an appointment or a fit note?
By selecting the most appropriate online consultation for your needs, the GP will have the correct information to decide on the next step for your care. By using the online consult system to request an appointment or a fit note you are keeping the telephone lines free so that our team can help people with urgent health issues more quickly. If you are unable to complete an online consultation yourself, one of our reception team will arrange to call you back to go through the questions with you and submit to the GP on your behalf.
What sorts of health issues do the Urgent Care team deal with?
The Urgent care team’s focus is to assess and treat patients with urgent health care needs, these are usually new problems that if left untreated may cause serious illness or require hospital Admission such as severe abdominal pain, significant infections that could lead to sepsis (pneumonia, cellulitis), suicidal thoughts and urgent palliative care needs. If you believe you have a life-threatening health issue such as severe chest pain, extreme difficultly breathing, heavy bleeding or symptoms of a stroke please dial 999.
My child is unwell, when should I call the surgery?
We know that having a child unwell can be a worrying time. We recommend downloading the Paediatric Handi app, as this gives good information about when to treat illnesses at home and when to call the surgery for advice. You can also help your child by having a working thermometer and liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen at home and ensuring your child is up to date with their immunisations.
How do I request a home visit?
We offer home visits for housebound patients. Please telephone the surgery before 11 am to request a home visit. The request will be triaged by the urgent care team and if appropriate you may be visited by one of our paramedics, one of the GPs or a district nurse.
How do I request a repeat prescription?
The quickest way to request a repeat prescription is via the NHS app or to have repeat ordering set up by your usual pharmacy.
I have had some tests ordered by the GP, the receptionist tells me they are normal, but I still have symptoms what should I do next?
Please book a routine telephone or face to face appointment to discuss these with your GP. If your tests require urgent action, we will contact you to arrange this.
I have had tests ordered by the hospital and am waiting for the results?
Tests results go back to the ordering doctor, and it is their responsibility to interpret the results and inform you of them. If a hospital doctor has requested tests they will be in touch, should you have queries please contact them directly to discuss these (their details will usually be on your last clinic letter). We are not able to access your results as they go back to the hospital team.
How do I request a private letter or report?
GPs do private reports such as insurance reports and letters. This is not NHS work and is chargeable. Please find our fees attached. Urgent NHS work takes priority over private work. Please either fill in an e consult or telephone the secretarial team to discuss.
Why do I have to wait to see my doctor, it makes me anxious?
We understand that when you have a health concern you would like to be seen quickly for assessment. Unfortunately, pressures on the whole NHS mean that, although GPs are doing more appointments than ever, waiting times are longer than we would all like. Just like pilots and drivers, there is a limit to how many hours GPs can safely work for. If the GP has triaged your current issue as routine, we would appreciate you waiting for the next available routine appointment. If you have submitted your request via e consult the GP may direct you to sources of help while you wait such as the GetuBetter app for musculoskeletal issues and MINDLine for mental health issues.
Nurse Appointments
We have a very experienced and friendly team of practice nurses, with certain specialities including diabetes, asthma, COPD, anti-coagulation. Our nurses provide a wide range of services including blood tests, dressings, ear syringing, cervical smears, ECGs, blood pressure monitoring, pill checks, diabetic reviews, travel advice and flu vaccines.
Pharmacies
Local pharmacies can also help deal with Minor Ailments and it might be more appropriate for you to see a pharmacist, who can also offer treatments over the counter. For more information on the Minor Ailment Schemes, please click here.
Text reminders
The surgery now offers a text messaging service for face to face appointment reminders; this service is only for patients over the age of 18 with a personal mobile number on their medical records. Please do let us know if you change your mobile number as it is very important we keep your records up to date.
Appointment Clinics;
Minor Surgery
These clinics are provided by Dr Langston. Please enquire at reception for up-to-date information regarding days and times of clinics.
Chronic Disease Management
The practice nurses run a number of clinics for asthma, diabetes, chronic heart disease etc.
Physiotherapy
The practice has its own in-house physiotherapist. The service is free and patients are referred via their GP.
Family Planning
A family planning service is offered by a couple of our practice nurses. In addition, all the doctors provide full contraceptive advice and services. Further details are available at reception.
Maternity Medical Services
Maternity medical services are offered by some of the doctors and our midwife. If you have recently found out you are pregnant, please visit our Pregnancy page for more information.
Child Health Surveillance/Postnatal Appointments
A programme of health and development screening is carried out by the doctors and the health visitors. Health visitors will routinely check your baby’s hearing before six weeks. Doctors carry out a developmental check by eight weeks and we will write to you with an appointment date and time. Please note it is very helpful to register your baby as soon as you can. Health visitors carry out a further check at nine months old.
Childhood Immunisations
It is vital that all children attend for their immunisations. Clinics are held weekly and parents will receive notification from the health authority of when to attend.
Non-NHS Examinations/Reports
We offer a range of medical examinations and reports for specific purposes, including fitness to travel, HGV, insurance reports and letters for housing. These are all undertaken in surgery times and a fee is payable for these examinations/reports. Click here for a copy of our fees list.
Additional Services
Taunton Chiropractic Clinic is based within the Crown Medical Centre. If you wish to make an appointment to see a chiropractor, please contact them directly on 01823 333973. Please note that this is a private service and not currently available on the NHS.
Travel Appointments
We offer a range of travel vaccinations and advice at Crown Medical Centre, with our Nursing team. If you are going on holiday and need to book for vaccinations you will need to complete and return our travel form - Travel Form 2021 (PDF, 234KB). Our Nursing Team will review and be in touch either via text message or telephone.
Yellow Fever
We are no longer a Yellow Fever Centre. Please visit Boots Travel Clinic online to find out where your local centre is; www.boots.com/health-pharmacy-advice/travelhealth