NHS Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Location: Platt Bridge Health Centre, Rivington Avenue, Wigan, WN2 5NG
Job Summary
An exciting opportunity for an experienced, motivated, and enthusiastic Consultant PA to join our Medical Secretarial Team. The position is 27 hours per week, based at our Platt Bridge site within Community Paediatrics. After initial training, hybrid working (office and home days) may be considered. You will work independently within a small team, managing office administration for Consultants, junior doctors, and Specialist Nurses, and providing an efficient PA service. Good communication, confidentiality, and the ability to handle sensitive issues are essential.
About Us
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) provides acute hospital and community services to the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. We value staff engagement, patient safety, and continuous improvement. Our values include putting patients at the heart of everything we do and ensuring dignity and quality care for all.
Job Details
* Date posted: 30 October 2025
* Pay scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: 4
* Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year, pro rata
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
* Reference number: 302-25-7482096S
* Job location: Platt Bridge Health Centre, Rivington Avenue, Wigan, WN2 5NG
Responsibilities
* Providing a complete PA service including word processing, filing, audio typing, photocopying, and the composition of letters; preparing responses and requests for the Consultant and designated medical staff.
* Distributing and prioritising incoming mail, using judgement and experience to decide which documents are to be passed directly to other areas.
* Undertaking administrative work at the request of the consultant or their team.
* Attending outpatient clinics and ward rounds as necessary and where appropriate.
* Providing the first point of contact for written and telephone enquiries, some of which may be sensitive, on behalf of the Consultant and their team.
* When notified of Consultant leave, ensuring appropriate action is taken with regard to cancelling/reducing clinics and re‑evaluating/re‑scheduling appointments in the Consultant’s diary.
* Producing and distributing patient/procedure lists, e.g. admissions, arranging and co‑ordinating domiciliary visits and assessments, theatre, outpatient procedures within required timescales.
* Maintaining close working relationships between Consultant and patient where appropriate.
* Organising and coordinating multidisciplinary team meetings, arranging venue and taking minutes where appropriate.
* Ensuring timely responses to medico‑legal reports/insurance reports.
* Introducing and implementing new practices to enhance service development, i.e. developing protocols and procedures for improved patient services.
* Supervising new PAs/secretaries/support staff and work experience students, ensuring an effective office system is maintained.
* Compiling and distributing medical staff rotas and liaising with medical staffing about annual leave/sick leave arrangements where applicable.
* Ensuring all results of investigations are brought to the attention of the medical staff to be signed and using own judgement and experience to highlight any that may need urgent action.
* Maintaining a diary of appointments and information relevant to medical staff.
* Ensuring accurate and up‑to‑date information for the Trust’s waiting list requirements.
* Ensuring adequate supply of stationery and equipment.
* Developing office, PA and secretarial practices to continually improve service delivery.
* Assisting colleagues in providing cross‑cover for the work of absent PAs, including across sites, when necessary.
* Preparation of induction packs for Junior Doctors.
* Administration of duties in relation to new policies (e.g. 18‑week pathway inter‑provider transfer documentation, 'choose and book' administration and patient choice bookings), providing training to other staff where appropriate.
* Migration to digital dictation systems and re‑organisation of workload to meet performance standards.
* Act independently within occupational guidelines and decide when it is necessary to refer to the Manager.
* Exercise initiative commensurate with the role and maintain confidentiality at all times.
Person Specification
Essential
* Able to work on other trust sites as required.
* Demonstrates willingness to change as the role evolves.
* Willing to meet the performance criteria set out in the job description and undertake personal and professional development.
* Speak English to an appropriate standard, using correct sentence structures, vocabulary, and without hesitation.
* Motivated and pro‑active.
* Medical terminology in at least one speciality.
* Understanding of 18‑week pathway, CAB and how role fits with these initiatives.
* Information Governance and Data Protection knowledge.
* Working as a team member; prioritising workload effectively; communicating clearly and concisely; working within tight time frames and to deadlines; using tact and empathy when handling patient calls.
* AMSPAR Diploma or equivalent experience of providing a PA/secretarial service.
* RSA III typing or equivalent qualification/experience.
* Diary management; drafting correspondence; answering telephone enquiries; audio typing; minute taking.
* Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook on a regular basis.
* Experience of monitoring quality of transcriptions.
Desirable
* Knowledge of medical terminology within more than one speciality.
* Knowledge of patient administration systems including Electronic Patient Record.
* Shorthand qualification.
* ECDL.
* AMSPAR Certificate in medical terminology, or equivalent.
* Experience utilising digital dictation systems.
* Experience managing stationary and stock levels.
* Experience handling medico‑legal reports and insurance claims.
* Experience scheduling and rescheduling clinic lists on behalf of a consultant.
* Experience training/mentoring new staff within own work area.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer Details
* Employer name: Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
* Address: Platt Bridge Health Centre, Rivington Avenue, Wigan, WN2 5NG
* Website: www.wwl.nhs.uk
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