Pathology Support Secretary inWarrington inWarrington PUBLISHED MON 23 DEC 2024

This is an exciting opportunity to join a unique secretarial/administrative team within the heart of the diagnostic services.

Our vision is to deliver high-quality, safe healthcare. Our dedicated staff collaborate to offer exceptional health care services. If you are driven by a passion to make a difference and wish to join our dynamic and forward-thinking NHS Foundation Trust, we invite you to apply.

We seek to appoint a proactive and highly motivated individual to our Pathology Secretarial team. The role involves performing administration duties to support the secretarial team, managing timely diagnostic reports, and patient correspondence. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the Office Manager and Medical Secretaries, providing support to the Consultant team to meet all service requirements.

You must possess excellent typing skills and a basic grasp of medical terminology. This role is designated for the Pathology department prior knowledge in this field is beneficial but not mandatory as training will be offered. Outstanding communication skills are crucial, along with the ability to work effectively within a team environment. The candidate will be expected to engage with clinicians of varying seniorities, including Trust managers, and external agencies. Proficient time management skills are vital to manage a demanding workload.

Work under the supervision of the office manager, adhering to standard operating procedures and escalating issues to the manager for resolution.

Type up reports and patient correspondence from digital/audio dictation within the agreed Trust timescales and guidelines.

Ensure the completion of all priority reports/letters daily in the absence of Senior Medical Secretaries, dispatch signed letters, and promptly return medical records.

Conduct weekly office stock checks.

Handle emails requesting the transfer of materials to other hospitals.

Provide competent, high-level support to medical secretaries, Consultants, and other staff.

Offer flexible cover/support for secretarial colleagues during periods of sickness, annual leave, etc.

Serve as the first point of contact for telephone inquiries from patients and dispatch reports to external hospitals.

Record materials sent from the Trust and track their return as needed.

Regularly return and retrieve blocks and slides from the archive.

Perform data entry and continually update spreadsheets, ensuring the return of reports and materials from other hospitals within specified timelines.

Assist secretarial staff in preparing for MDT meetings, including printing reports.

About us

The successful candidate will handle daily administrative tasks as a support secretary, ensuring the timely management of diagnostic reports and patient correspondence for our pathology service. Collaboration with the Office Manager, Medical Secretaries, and the Consultant team is crucial to meet all service requirements. The candidate must consistently demonstrate respect and dignity towards colleagues and patients.

Based in the Warrington Pathology Department's administration office, the role involves working across all pathology sections. Interaction with clinicians at various levels, Trust managers, and external organisations is required. Direct communication with patients about their appointments and occasional assistance with typing clinical letters is also part of the duties.

The role demands independent work to manage personal workloads according to service needs and adherence to local/national policies.

Confidentiality in patient-related work is imperative. As a team member, the Support Secretary must prioritise patient interests and comply with the Data Protection Act (1998), understanding the implications of non-compliance.