Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Medical Secretary with strong organisational skills and a positive attitude to support our busy histopathology team. The post holder will be involved in the audio typing of clinical reports, and the coordination and implementation of office procedures. The ideal candidate should have experience of working in Cellular Pathology (Histopathology).
The successful candidate will be primarily based at QEH but may occasionally support other ESEL sites depending on service needs. The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities include:
1. Audio typing and managing patient records using Win Path Enterprise (LIMS) and EPR systems.
2. Responsible for ensuring that all referral reports returned from external hospitals are entered on the LIMS, distributed to relevant clinicians, and filed accordingly.
3. Providing clerical and administrative support to the Cellular Pathology team.
4. To ensure that all incoming telephone calls are answered or referred as appropriate to the relevant personnel
5. Liaising with clinicians, patients, and allied healthcare professionals to ensure smooth service delivery.
6. Maintaining high standards of confidentiality and accuracy in all administrative tasks.
Working for our organisation
The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.
The Pathology Partnership was formed in May 2021. Between 2021 and 2024 the Partnership undertook a complex transformation programme to establish a single network of laboratories, underpinned by a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and single Quality Management System (QMS).
The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at the six other hospital sites served by the Partnership.
The Partnership has three operational divisions:
7. Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry
8. Microbiology and Virology
9. Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics
The 2024/25 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £121m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 860 WTE.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the Pathology Partnership and Barts Health at this band
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
1. To ensure that efficient electronic and paper filing systems are maintained to facilitate effective data retrieval.
2. To provide clerical support to the Consultant staff and non-medical staff. Responsible for typing reports into the computer system using audio dictation and copy typing or any other digital dictation device, as required.
3. To communicate with colleagues, healthcare professionals and patients in a polite and courteous manner, showing the degree of professionalism expected.
4. To ensure that diagnostic reports are issued to the requesting clinician in an accurate and timely manner.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the recruitment information pack.
**We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date, once a sufficient number of applications has been received and we regret that we are unable to provide notification if your application is unsuccessful**
Person specification
Skills
Essential criteria
10. Extensive Typing skills including audio typing.
11. Good understanding of Medical Terminology
12. Able to follow Standard Operating Procedures
13. Good attention to detail. Supervisory and training skills
14. Ability to work with large volumes of data entry.
15. Excellent numerical and literacy skills.
16. Good organisational and interpersonal skills
17. Able to build and develop working relationships with colleagues within and outside the Trust.
18. Good IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Office.
19. To be able to organise personal workload to meet deadlines.
Desirable criteria
20. Good interpersonal skills.
21. Courteous. Self-motivated.
22. Able to show initiative
Qualifications
Essential criteria
23. GCSE grade C/ equivalent in Maths and English
Desirable criteria
24. Amspar qualified or course being undertaken.
Experience
Essential criteria
25. Substantive experience in working with computer systems.
26. Experience in using databases.
27. Previous office/secretarial experience
28. Experience of working to deadlines
Desirable criteria
29. Previous computing experience or VDU work
30. Previous experience in answering and dealing with telephone enquiries.
31. Previous experience working in a Cellular Pathology Department.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
32. IT Literate
33. Medical terminology
34. Knowledge of Health & Safety
Desirable criteria
35. Knowledge of Microsoft Word/Excel
Other
Essential criteria
36. Able to undertake ‘house-keeping duties.
37. Able to perform required duties with any appropriate aids or adaptations.
38. Able to communicate effectively (written and verbal)
39. Highly motivated and flexible attitude.
40. Able to work using own initiative
41. Enthusiastic and hard working.
Desirable criteria
42. Previous NHS experience.