Which GP route should Princes Park patients use now?
Princes Park is no longer best understood as a small standalone surgery with one doctor list and one booking line. It is part of MPA Group Practices, and current appointment requests use a total-triage model through Anima.
This matters because older search results still show legacy phone numbers, an older provider profile and doctor information from before the present MPA group structure.
Use Dove Close for the Princes Park Site
MPA Group Practices currently identifies Princes Park Medical Centre as one of its five practice sites and gives the following site-specific contact details:
Dove Close
Walderslade
Chatham
Kent
ME5 7TD
Use the latest MPA Contact Us page when verifying this number.
Why Three Different Princes Park / MPA Phone Numbers Can Appear Online
This is one of the most useful details to understand before calling. Current and historical official pages do not all display the same number.
| Number | Where it appears | Best interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 01634 557878 | Current MPA Contact Us page beside Princes Park Medical Centre | Best site-specific Princes Park contact number to keep. |
| 01634 890712 | MPA’s group appointments information and several other MPA sites | Group-level MPA contact route rather than the Princes Park site-specific number. |
| 01634 201272 | Current CQC profile still displays this number | Treat as a legacy regulatory contact listing rather than the first number to use for current reception. |
GP Requests Use Anima Total Triage
MPA currently says there are three ways to contact the practice: online through Anima, by telephone, or in person.
The important part is what happens next. MPA describes its system as total triage: every request is looked at first by a clinical team member so the practice can decide what type of help is most suitable.
Open the current MPA appointments page
Start from MPA Group Practices appointments rather than an old Princes Park booking bookmark.
Submit an Anima request
Give a brief but useful explanation of what you need. MPA says this helps the clinical team prioritise urgent problems and decide which professional is most appropriate.
Do not assume every request ends with a GP
Depending on the problem, the practice says another professional may be more appropriate, such as a nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or mental-health worker.
If online access is difficult, ask staff to submit it
MPA explicitly says an administration team member can submit the Anima request for you and will ask the same questions used by the online form.
Follow the clinical outcome
You may be offered a GP appointment, another clinician, advice or a different service. Total triage is designed to choose the route before allocating care rather than simply filling the next GP slot.
For another Kent example of an NHS practice using Anima differently, our Marden Medical Centre Anima and NHS App guide shows why patients should always follow the rules of their own surgery rather than assuming all Anima practices work identically.
Core Access Hours: 8am to 6:30pm on Weekdays
MPA’s current appointments page says Anima is open from 8:00am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. The same page describes those times as the group’s core practice hours for online routine and administrative requests.
| Day | Published MPA core / Anima window | Before travelling |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Check current MPA notices for site-specific changes. |
| Tuesday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Use Anima during the published weekday window. |
| Wednesday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Confirm temporary closures if your journey is difficult. |
| Thursday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Follow current MPA operational notices. |
| Friday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Sort routine requests before the weekend where possible. |
| Saturday / Sunday | No normal weekday Anima window | Use the appropriate NHS out-of-hours route when needed. |
Which NHS Doctors Are Listed by MPA Group Practices?
The current MPA GP Team page lists the following doctors. This is a group-wide GP list across MPA sites.
The official page does not currently say that every doctor below is based at Princes Park on every day or that each one accepts individual direct bookings at Dove Close. That distinction matters when people search for “Princes Park doctors”.
This is also why individual `Physician` schema is not added to this page: the source supports membership of the MPA GP team, but not a permanent Princes Park location for every named doctor.
Why Older Pages May Show a Different Provider
CQC explicitly marks the current profile with the notice that the provider changed. The present regulated provider is Medway Practices Alliance Limited.
MPA Group Practices currently brings together: Balmoral Gardens, Iwade Health Centre, Princes Park Medical Centre, Sunlight Surgery and Twydall Green Surgery.
CQC identifies the provider of Princes Park Medical Centre as Medway Practices Alliance Limited.
Cancel Early if You No Longer Need the Appointment
MPA says around 500 appointments across the group can be lost in an average month when patients do not attend.
Its appointment reminder is normally sent around 48 hours before the appointment and may allow the patient to reply CANCEL by text.
Use the cancellation option shown in the reminder if available.
Contact the practice as soon as possible so the slot can be offered to another patient.
Home Visits Are for Patients Who Cannot Reasonably Attend
MPA says a home visit can be arranged when a patient is too unwell to come to the surgery and asks patients to call before 11am.
Its guidance describes a person who cannot leave their residence without ambulance support, two people, or where clinical judgement says attendance should not be expected.
Repeat Prescriptions: Allow at Least Three Working Days
MPA’s current prescription guidance says it no longer accepts prescription requests by email and encourages patients to use an online system such as the NHS App, Patient Access or supported GP online service.
NHS App
Request supported repeat medicines and use your nominated pharmacy where available.
GP online services
MPA publishes online account routes that send the medication request directly into the practice computer system.
Nominated pharmacy
MPA asks patients to nominate a pharmacy so prescriptions can be sent electronically through EPS.
MPA publishes a separate urgent-medication policy and identifies some medicines where missing doses may create greater clinical risk, including insulin, epilepsy medicines, Parkinson’s medicines, asthma treatment, anticoagulants and long-term steroids. If you are genuinely running out of an important medicine, contact the practice or appropriate NHS urgent-care route rather than trying to decide urgency from this article alone.
NHS App and Online Access Can Reduce Routine Phone Calls
MPA’s current online-access information says supported services can let patients:
- view parts of their medical record, including some test results and letters;
- order repeat prescriptions;
- receive messages and reminders from the practice;
- manage supported online GP tasks without remaining in a telephone queue.
For another Kent example where Anima is used for GP requests while NHS App remains important for other tasks, see our Vine Medical Centre online GP booking guide .
New Patient Registration: MPA and NHS Guidance Need to Be Read Together
The current NHS profile for organisation code G82741 says the GP surgery is accepting new patients.
MPA’s registration page says people living within the practice area are welcome to register and can also register online. It asks applicants for a recent utility bill and photographic ID.
Check that you are registering with the right MPA practice
Princes Park is one of several MPA sites. Match your address and preferred surgery before completing the form.
Check the practice area
MPA says eligibility can be confirmed from your address. A nearby surgery does not automatically cover every postcode.
Complete the registration form and health questionnaire
MPA says the health questionnaire helps the practice while it waits for medical records to arrive from your previous doctor.
Do not assume missing ID blocks NHS registration
National NHS guidance says patients do not need ID, proof of address, proof of immigration status or an NHS number simply to register with a GP surgery in England.
If MPA asks for documents you do not have, speak to reception
Supporting documents can help with identity matching, record transfer or checking the practice boundary, but the national NHS registration rules still apply.
Allow time for old records to transfer
MPA says previous medical records may take several weeks to arrive. Tell the new practice about important repeat medicines or ongoing care rather than waiting until medication runs out.
A GP Request May Be Routed Beyond a Doctor
One reason total triage matters is that MPA’s clinical workforce is broader than a traditional “doctor and receptionist” model.
CQC’s July 2023 inspection recorded a multidisciplinary workforce that included GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses, an advanced clinical practitioner, paramedics, mental-health nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists and a phlebotomist.
GP team
Medical assessment, diagnosis, ongoing care and referral where a GP is the appropriate professional.
Other clinicians
Depending on the request, MPA says patients may be better helped by a nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, mental-health worker or another member of the team.
Contraception and menopause
MPA publishes contraception and menopause support delivered by doctors, nurses and advanced nurse practitioners across its services.
CQC Rates the Current Princes Park Provider Good
CQC carried out a comprehensive inspection on 11 and 13 July 2023 and published the report on 24 August 2023.
Overall rating
Good.
Every key question
Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were each rated Good.
Provider
Medway Practices Alliance Limited.
CQC said staff treated patients with kindness, respect and compassion, found systems for safe medicine use and noted that patients were able to access care and treatment in a timely way.
CQC also listed regulated activities including diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
Why the NHS Profile Can Look Wrong for Princes Park
The current NHS profile titled “Princes Park Medical Ctr” still uses organisation code G82741 and says the surgery is accepting new patients.
However, the profile currently displays Sunlight Surgery, Sunlight Centre, Gillingham ME7 1LX as its address. The NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit entry for G82741 also uses the Sunlight Surgery address.
That appears to reflect group-level / administrative organisation data after the MPA restructuring, not the physical Princes Park surgery location.
Common Princes Park Problems and the Best Next Step
| Problem | Why it happens | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Google shows a different phone number | Current MPA, group pages and CQC contain different numbers | Use 01634 557878 from MPA’s current Princes Park contact listing. |
| NHS profile shows Gillingham | G82741 currently carries the Sunlight Surgery address in NHS organisation data | For physical Princes Park travel, use Dove Close, Chatham ME5 7TD. |
| I want a named doctor | MPA’s current GP list is group-wide rather than a Princes Park rota | Ask reception or submit the request through Anima and state your preference where appropriate. |
| I cannot use Anima | Digital access or accessibility issue | Phone or attend reception; MPA says an administration team member can submit the same questions for you. |
| I need a repeat urgently because I ordered late | Normal processing takes at least three working days | Contact the practice and explain the medicine involved. Do not assume a late order meets the clinical urgent-medication policy. |
| I do not have photo ID for registration | MPA asks for supporting documents, while NHS national rules say they are not mandatory simply to register | Contact reception and refer to NHS registration guidance rather than assuming you cannot register. |
| I need urgent help outside normal hours | Routine GP triage is not the correct out-of-hours route | Use NHS 111 for urgent non-life-threatening help; call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. |
If you are comparing different Kent online-GP systems, our Belvedere Medical Centre online-access guide is a useful example of why live booking notices matter more than assuming one digital tool works across every practice.
Map to Dove Close, Walderslade
Princes Park Medical Centre
Dove Close
Walderslade
Chatham
Kent
ME5 7TD
This embedded map is provided for directions only. It is not an official NHS or MPA map.
Princes Park Patient Route Planner
This helper does not diagnose symptoms. It only selects an administrative route already explained on this page.
Choose the task you are trying to complete.
Official Sources for the Final Step
Use the relevant current source below for booking, contact, registration, prescriptions or regulator information.
Princes Park Patient Questions Answered
Where is Princes Park Medical Centre?
The current MPA contact page lists Princes Park Medical Centre at Dove Close, Walderslade, Chatham, Kent ME5 7TD. Use this address for physical visits rather than the Sunlight Surgery address currently displayed on the NHS G82741 profile.
What is the current Princes Park Medical Centre phone number?
MPA’s current site-specific listing gives 01634 557878. Other official pages still display group or older numbers, so 01634 557878 is the most useful current Princes Park-specific number to keep.
How do I request a GP appointment at Princes Park?
MPA currently uses Anima total triage. You can submit a request online, contact the practice by telephone or attend reception. Every request is reviewed first so the practice can decide whether a GP, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, mental-health worker or another route is most appropriate.
When is Anima available?
MPA currently publishes Anima as available from 8:00am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Check current practice notices before travelling because those are group core / online-request hours rather than a separate Princes Park building-hours guarantee.
Which doctors work at Princes Park Medical Centre?
MPA publishes a current group-wide GP Team list that includes Dr Sladana Horvat, Dr Adedoyin Akingbehin, Dr Chris Onyema, Dr Fateh Amer, Dr Jane Johnny, Dr Julian Spinks, Dr Lubna Hanif, Dr Uso Ebulue, Dr Charles Nwogu, Dr Kuljinder Klear, Dr David Chelliah and Dr Raneesh Mahandru. The official list does not assign every doctor permanently to Princes Park, so ask the practice about current availability.
How long should I allow for a repeat prescription?
MPA asks patients to allow at least three working days for normal repeat medication. It encourages online ordering and says prescription requests are no longer accepted by email.
Can I request a home visit?
MPA says home visits can be arranged for patients who are too unwell to attend and asks patients to call before 11am. The practice assesses whether a home visit is clinically appropriate.
Is Princes Park Medical Centre accepting new patients?
The current NHS profile for organisation code G82741 says the GP surgery is accepting new patients. MPA asks people to check that they live within the practice area and complete its registration process.
Do I need photo ID and proof of address to register?
MPA’s current registration page asks applicants for photographic ID and a recent utility bill, but national NHS guidance says patients do not need ID, proof of address, proof of immigration status or an NHS number simply to register with a GP surgery in England. If you cannot provide documents, contact the practice rather than assuming you cannot register.
What is Princes Park Medical Centre’s CQC rating?
CQC currently rates Princes Park Medical Centre Good overall. Its comprehensive inspection took place on 11 and 13 July 2023, with the report published on 24 August 2023. Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good.