A new version of the practice's Patient Privacy Policy is now available on our website, which has updated information releating to GP connect, Population Health Reporting and Data for Planning and Research.

We have been asked this question by a few patients and, in short, the answer is no. 

We are aware that the contract held by Burntwood Health and Wellbeing Centre will come to an end on 31.3.24 and are aware that this may mean that patients will register with Darwin Medical Practice.  We review our ratio of clinical staff against patient numbers regularly and increase our staffing levels accordingly as the practice patient list size grows.

We have the room capacity to increase the levels of service that we provide at both our Burntwood branches and at our Lichfield branch and, whilst all NHS services are likely to remain under considerable pressure for the foreseeable future, we will continue to do all that we can to provide our patients with the best levels of service possible with the resources that we have available to us.

We wanted to advise our patients that NHS England will be changing the way communications are sent to you. 

Our surgery has been enabled to send messages directly to the NHS app.  Patients will receive messages in this way if they have the NHS app downloaded and notifications switched on. For more information on the use of the NHS app visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/msg-service

Our surgery may continue to send you information by SMS (text) message as well, whilst the NHS transition all messaging to the NHS app.

Please note the surgery will close at 1pm Tuesday afternoon a month for staff training, and will re-open at 8am the following day. 

Here are the dates for your diary:-

• 17th October
• 21st November 
• 19th December 

When we are closed:

• If you have a medical emergency please dial 999
• If you need to contact a GP with an urgent condition, that cannot wait until the practice re-opens please dial 111 and speak to the NHS111 service.

If you were treated by Ian Paterson and have a question regarding your care, please call the dedicated patient helpline on 0800 085 8130, and speak to a member of the specialist team.  The helpline is in operation between 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 6pm Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday.  You can also email us at spirecarehelplineianpaterson@spirehealthcare.com 

If you would like confidential support and advice from an independent organsiation, you can also speak to The Patients Associate on 0800 345 7115 between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

The Voluntary Car Scheme operates across Lichfield & Cannock Chase areas

Now open Monday - Thursday 9:30am - 12:00pm 

The Volunary Car Scheme - Voluntary drivers will collect patients from their homes and drive them to their doctors, dentist or hospital appointments, they will wait up to two hours for them, and then return them back home. 

Anyone requesting the service will be advised of the cost of the journey when they make their booking. 

For more details, please call the office on either:-

Lichfield & Cannock: 01543 303023

Burntwood: 01543 303025

We are aware of recent reports in the local press and on social media regarding the local Health Authorities (ICB's) decision to end the contract with the current provider with effect from the end of March 2024.  This relates only to the surgery located next to the leisure centre and does not relate to Darwin Medical Practice.  We anticipate that patients will be concerned about the impact of the decision made by the ICB and their ability to access services in Burntwood.  We remain fully committed to providing the best service possible and monitor our patient numbers closely so we can match our staffing levels to demand and will aim to adjust those to ensure a good service to all our current and any new patients. 

The ICB decision to disperse the practice list of patients does not come into effect for another year so we have time to adjust to and understand the impact of the decision.  We will work closely with all parties involved to ensure patients receive the care they need.