The Health Centre
University of Warwick, Health Centre Road, Coventry
CV4 7AL
External Tel: (024) 76524888 Int. Tel: 24888
Fax: (024) 76524548
Web site: www.uwhc.org.uk
E-mail: uniadmin.m86029@nhs.net
(For administrative matters only)
Doctors
- Dr Elizabeth Cowan (Female) MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP,Manchester1980
- Dr Robert Jones (Male) MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP,London1987
- Dr Daniele Thornton (Female) MBChB, MRCGP,Leeds1988
- Dr Gavin Shields (Male) MBChB,DCH,Birmingham1989
- Dr Matthew Butler (Male) MBBS, MRCGP,LondonT (GP) 1994
- Dr Helen Dyer (Female) MBBS,DCH,London1988
Nurse Practitioners
- Mrs Linda Robson RGN, BSc. (Hons), MSc,
- Mrs Ellen Selby RGN, BSc. (Hons)
Practice Nurses
- Mrs Corinne Hayes RGN
- Mrs Lynette Smith RGN
Practice Manager
The Practice Manager, Linda Mizen, is responsible for the administration of the practice. She would be very happy to hear your views and suggestions about services offered.
Receptionists
Our team of receptionist are available to deal with making appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions and general queries during our opening hours.
Administration Staff
Our administration team are able to deal with a number of queries including referrals, registration, medical reports and request for copies of notes.
GP Registrars/Medical Students
The practice is registered to train Health Care Professionals and you may be offered, with your permission, an appointment with a GP registrar, or a medical student may be present at your consultation.
Registration
In order to register you must be student living on campus or within our catchment area or a member of staff living on campus. Post Graduates living in Leamington or Kenilworth will need to register with a local GP. Please supply your NHS number and childhood vaccination history along with other medical information when completing registration forms. Please be aware that when you register with us you “de-register” from your previous GP in UK and your medical records will be transferred here. If you need to see a GP when home during vacations, you should temporarily register with a local GP.
Primary Medical Care under the National Health Service (NHS) is also free to international students if their course at the University lasts for 3 months or more but students must register with a GP practice as soon as possible after arrival. Please note if you have never registered in the UK before you will not have a NHS number.
The centre does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.
Please let us know of any change in your personal details as soon as possible, e.g. new address, telephone number, married name etc
Surgery Hours
- Term Time - Mon – Fri: 9am – 6pm
- Vacation - Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm
Surgeries operate throughout the day. The building has suitable access facilities for disabled patients. All consulting rooms are on the ground floor.
Please note the centre will be closed during Bank Holidays and may be closed at times for staff meeting and training.
Appointments
GP surgery times vary, for exact time and details of doctors in attendance please contact reception.
Appointments can be made by telephoning the centre or by calling into reception. All surgeries with our clinical team consist of a mixture of pre-bookable and on the day appointments. An appointment with the Dr or Nurse of your choice cannot be guaranteed although where possible this will be accommodated.
If you can no longer make your appointments please contact us as early as possible to prevent waste of clinician’s valuable time.
If you have several problems or very complex problems please explain to the receptionist so we can book a double appointment if needed.
Private Services
The Health Centre is first and foremost an NHS Surgery. However the NHS does not cover certain types of service such as private medical reports and examinations, travel vaccinations, completion of some certificates and forms etc. These activities are chargeable; a copy of the current charges is available at reception.
Short-term students/visitors from abroad, who are not eligible for NHS care, are advised to have medical insurance and may be seen privately.
Home Visits
If you are genuinely too ill to visit the Health Centre contact us before10:00am for a home visit. Please consider carefully before requesting a home visit as most problems are best dealt with at the surgery and you will usually be seen sooner.
Nurse Practitioner
Most patients requesting same day appointments will be offered an appointment with the Nurse Practitioner first. They will, after assessing the patient’s needs, usually provide the treatment required and can issue a prescription. If necessary, the patient can be referred onto the doctor on the same day.
Practice Nursing Services
A Nurse is available during surgery hours and appointments should be made.
Out of Hours Service
Emergency Out of Hours provision is the responsibility of the Coventry Primary Care Trust. They have commissioned Warwickshire Ambulance Service to provide emergency care when the surgery is closed.
In an emergency call 111
Between 8am - 9am Monday to Friday and during university vacations in the early evening between 5pm - 6:30pm Monday to Friday you should contact the main surgery for your practice.
Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E)
A&E is located at University Hospital, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX (024 7696 4000).
Public transport is available via 801 buses from the main campus.
Other alternative services
NHS Direct – 0845 46 47
This is a national telephone advice line where a team of qualified staff will be available to talk to you over the telephone. Available 24 hours per day all year round. Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Walk-In-Centre – 0300 200 0060
This is a nurse led clinic on Stoney Stanton Road. It is for minor illness, injury or advice. Open 8:00am - 10:00pm daily.
Website: www.coventrynhshealthcentre.nhs.uk
Summary of Services Provided at the Health Centre
- Treatment of Acute and chronic illness
- Referral to secondary medical services
- Sexual Health Services for men & women
- Full Sexual Health Screening (including HIV)
- Chlamydia Screening
- Cervical Smears
- Review of patients with chronic disease e.g. asthma, diabetes
- Counselling & advice on medical issues
- Travel Clinics
- Immunisation & preventative care
- Screening for certain conditions
We can arrange contact with counsellors, community psychiatric nurse, physiotherapists, midwives &/or health visitors.
Repeat Prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions are issued at the doctor’s discretion for patients on long term treatment. Repeat prescription requests can be made:
In person at the Health Centre by either using the tear off slip found on the right side of your prescription or by completing a request slip at reception, or via our website at www.uwhc.org.uk
Please allow two complete working days before collection and make allowance for weekends and holidays. We will post prescriptions if you supply a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Please note if requesting a repeat prescription for contraceptive pills you may need to see the nurse prior to receiving it. Please check and arrange an appointment accordingly.
Comments/Complaints/Suggestions
We endeavour to give you the best service possible at all times but there may be occasions when you wish to express dissatisfaction. We offer an informal, in-house procedure to deal with your concerns. The procedure does not deal with legal liability or compensation and does not affect your right to complain to Coventry Primary Care Trust or ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service
ICAS is an independent, impartial, non-judgemental and confidential service for anyone needing help or advice regarding a complaint about NHS treatment. They collaborate closely with The Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support to patients, families and their carers. It also gives assistance in resolving problems and concerns quickly. Information about local health services is also available
If you wish to make a complaint please contact the Practice Manager, we will acknowledge your complaint promptly, investigate it and sort out the problem as quickly as possible. We will meet with you or send you a written reply within two weeks. A leaflet giving details of the complaints procedure is available in the Health Centre.
Freedom of Information Act
Publications are available upon request stating our policies and procedures as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Working Together
We endeavour to treat all patients with courtesy and respect and we expect the same good manners from our patients. We will not tolerate any form of abuse, whether it is verbal or physical. Patients using any threatening or violent behaviour will be deducted from our list.
NHS Summary Care Records (SCR)
When you register with the Practice an SCR will automatically be created. An SCR is an electronic summary containing limited patient information which can be shared to assist with your emergency care. The information contained within the SCR is: medication, allergies and adverse reactions. This information means that healthcare staff can provide you with safer care when your GP practice is closed or when you are away from home in another part of England. Only Healthcare staff who are directly involved in your care would be able to view your SCR.
Each patient has a choice regarding a SCR:
- You can choose to have a SCR: you do not need to do anything
- You can choose not to have a SCR: you need to let your GP practice know by filling in and returning an opt-out form
For further information regarding SCR:
Confidentiality
All doctors, nurse and staff are bound by a strict duty of confidentiality. Information may be shared with other healthcare professionals to provide you with the best informed care. However no outside agency will be given any information from your records without your permission. No information will be given to partners or relatives without your consent. You have the right to see your own records upon written request, both hand-written or from the computer. For audit purposes it is necessary to share anonymised data with CoventryPCT. Occasionally the PCT requires access to patient notes when we are inspected to make sure we are fulfilling our contract with them in Chronic Disease Management. If you do not wish your notes accessed for this purpose please let us know.
Useful Telephone Numbers
University Hospital 024 7696 4000
Coventry Primary Care Trust 024 7655 2225
ICAS 0845 120 3748
PALS 0800 028 4203
Citizens Advice Bureau 024 7622 3284
Samaritans 024 7667 8678
Alcoholics Anonymous 024 7622 6619
Sexually transmitted disease 0300 020 0027
HIV Network 024 7622 9292
British Pregnancy Advisory Service 0845 730 4030
University Counselling Service 024 7652 3761