Medical Secretary
Closing date: 29 May 2026
Responsibilities
* Support the day‑to‑day organisation, planning and management responsibilities of the Consultants and their teams through the maintenance of their annual leave, their diary, the arrangement of meetings, travel and other appointments.
* Act as first point of contact for patients, GPs, external organisations and members of the general public seeking information and support from the hospital. The post holder must be able to triage the calls appropriately and deal sympathetically with people who may be bereaved, distressed or angry using tact, persuasion and discretion, assessing priorities and initiating action as required.
* Answer telephone queries and provide non‑clinical advice regarding patient care and appointments/admissions to patients, Trust staff, referring GPs and Consultants, making appropriate judgement using acquired knowledge and experience.
* Communicate with patients/parents regarding personal and highly sensitive information.
* Typing urgent clinical and non‑clinical correspondence and reports including the transcription and management of audio sources (e.g. digital dictation) using initiative in managing and prioritising workload.
* Compose routine and non‑routine letters and produce typed clinical correspondence including the transcription of audio dictation.
* Attend, take and transcribe minutes for meetings as required within the specialty and implement any follow‑up action points.
* Access the computerised Patient Administration System (CareFlow) for relevant patient details, updating records and registering patients as required.
* Maintain and update specialty‑specific databases.
* Retrieve radiology and pathology results from core clinical systems.
* Take action as necessary in respect of all patients who fail to attend in accordance with the Trusts policy and the consultants special instructions.
* Ensure the timely despatch of all relevant information to GPs, other medical staff and external organisations in relation to the locally agreed requirements.
* Evaluate and re‑prioritise own workload in accordance with competing demands from patients, medical staff and others.
* Prioritise work to ensure that medical staff are provided with necessary information to take appropriate clinical action.
* Liaise with the Cancer Services Department of patients to be discussed at the Multidisciplinary Team Meetings.
* In conjunction with the support medical secretary/ies and clerical officer(s) within the department ensure that administrative duties are allocated and completed in a timely manner and distribution of workload is done to utilise the resources and support available.
* Ensure that all investigation results are shown to the relevant clinicians in a timely manner and make arrangements for any follow‑up actions required (e.g. urgent appointments).
* Where applicable ensure waiting time performance targets are achieved.
* Type theatre lists and distribute as required.
* Co‑operate in the introduction of new technology as it may apply.
* Be instrumental in preventing complaints from service users, resolving informal complaints and supporting the formal complaints process.
* In line with the Trusts standing financial instructions, handle cash/cheques for the Consultants and teams, patients and other external sources.
* Provide full secretarial support with respect to teaching/meetings as directed by medical staff, e.g. preparing PowerPoint presentations using clinical data and information via the internet.
* Maintain database of clinical activity as required to assist in clinical audit.
Qualifications
* NVQ level 3 or equivalent in administrative discipline
* RSA II / III Typing or Word Processing or equivalent experience
* European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
* British Society of Medical Secretaries Diploma or Advanced AMSPAR Diploma or equivalent experience
Knowledge & Experience
* Previous secretarial experience
* Previous medical secretary experience
* Knowledge of medical terminology
* Demonstrable skills in problem solving
* Previous NHS experience
Skills
* Audio and touch typing with a high level of accuracy
* Shorthand
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Organisational skills
* Able to use own initiative
* Ability to work in a pressured environment and prioritise workload
* Ability to maintain high levels of concentration with frequent interruptions
* Knowledge of Microsoft Office software packages
Other Physical and Work Requirements
* There is a frequent requirement for sitting in a restricted position at a desk for a substantial proportion of the working day
* There is a requirement for periods of frequent concentration with occasional interruptions
* Ability to deal with distressed patients or bereaved relatives, also the frequent need to type up documents of a distressing nature
* Requirement to use VDU equipment more or less continuously throughout the day
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Salary
£28,392 to £31,157 a year, pro rata.
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