Overview
We have a vacancy for a Medical Receptionist to join our friendly supportive team, doing a variety of work in our busy GP Practice. They will provide a range of reception and administration duties using SystmOne clinical system and Microsoft systems. Computer skills are essential and experience in coding and/or summarising would be desirable.
We are looking for someone who has experience in a customer care environment, ideally medical, and who is energetic, flexible, reliable and enthusiastic, and self-motivated with excellent communication skills. This is an essential role, providing a welcoming friendly and professional service to our patients, staff and visitors, face to face or via the telephone.
Main duties
* Welcoming patients to the practice, booking and rearranging appointments, maintaining and monitoring the practice appointment system.
* Care Navigation – Signpost patients to the most appropriate service (internally or externally).
* Deal with all general enquiries, explain procedures and make new and follow-up appointments.
* Action medication queries / repeat prescription / online repeat prescription requests.
* Use judgment and communication skills to ensure that patients with no prior appointment but who need urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner.
* Chaperone patients as and when required.
* Ensure all incoming and outgoing tasks are actioned appropriately and in a timely manner.
About us
Blackhall and Peterlee Practice is in the Easington area in County Durham and operates across two locations caring for 10,000+ patients. We are a large training practice with four GP partners, four salaried GPs, a nursing team, pharmacists and a large administrative team. We provide education and supervision for GP trainees and medical students. As part of Easington Central PCN we offer Enhanced Access and attached staff including physiotherapist, health and wellbeing coach, clinical pharmacist, care coordinator, adult mental health support, CAMHS and social prescribers. The role will involve working across both practices to enhance hours and increase accessibility to health care.
Details
Date posted: 11 September 2025
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £23,809 to £24,648 a year subject to experience
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: A0150-25-0004
Job locations: Hesleden Road, Blackhall Colliery, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS27 4LQ; Peterlee Community Hospital, O\'Neill Drive, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 5PU; New Seaham Medical Group, Eastdene Road, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 8DY
Job responsibilities
* Welcoming patients to practice, booking and rearranging appointments, maintaining and monitoring the practice appointment system.
* To ensure an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice.
* Answer incoming phone calls, transferring calls or dealing with callers requests, taking messages to pass onto the appropriate person.
* Care Navigation - Signpost patients to the most appropriate service (internally or externally).
* Deal with all general enquiries, explain procedures and make new and follow-up appointments.
* Using your own judgment and communication skills ensure that patients with no prior appointment but who need urgent consultation are seen in a logical and non-disruptive manner.
* Explain practice arrangements and formal requirements to new patients and those seeking temporary cover and ensure procedures are completed.
* Chaperone patients as and when required.
* Action medication queries / repeat prescription / online repeat prescription requests
* Ensure all incoming and outgoing tasks are actioned appropriately and in a timely manner; GP2GP transfers / appointment cancellation updates / PDS updates / new patient address / pathology / online service requests / letter to action / tasks from clinical staff.
* Understanding and fully utilising SystmOne. Input data into the patients’ healthcare records as necessary.
* Monitor and maintain the reception area and notice boards. Support all clinical staff with general tasks as requested.
* Ensure correspondence, reports, results etc are scanned / filed promptly and in the correct records, ensuring that all recent correspondence is available when patients are seen. Input patient data ensuring correct Read/SNOMED codes are used.
* To receive incoming and initiate outgoing telephone calls to facilitate timely and appropriate communications, taking messages and dealing with queries.
* To maintain the computer clinic system in an accurate and secure manner.
* Assist with the gathering of statistics and information when required. Assist with coding/ summarising as required.
* Cover for members of the reception/secretarial team during periods of sickness and annual leave across all sites to maintain operation efficiency.
* Any other duties deemed reasonable by the Partners/Practice Management Team.
Person Specification
Experience
* Customer service skills
* Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
* Ability to work on own initiative
* Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
Qualifications
* Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
* GCSE Mathematics and English (C or above)
* Good IT skills
Knowledge and skills
* Time Management
* Planning and prioritising
* Problem solving
* Accuracy in work
* Able to work to tight deadlines
* Able to work to protocols / guidelines
* Ability to communicate effectively to the practice team
* Ability to travel independently between sites
* Car driver / clean driving licence
* Personal qualities such as self-motivation, articulation, ability to work under pressure, adaptability, reliability, sense of humour and diplomacy
Other
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a Disclosure check.
Equality and Information Governance
The practice is committed to information governance and equality. You will be expected to understand and follow relevant policies and participate in required training.
Probation
Probation period of six months, with a three-month review.
Employer details
Blackhall and Peterlee Practice, Hesleden Road, Blackhall Colliery, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS27 4LQ. Website: http://www.blackhallandpeterleepractice.co.uk/
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