Medical Receptionist


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	Negotiable
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Taunton, TA2 8QY
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	28 Oct 2026
Closing date:	15 Nov 2026

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Summary

Responsible to: Reception Supervisor / Deputy Practice Manager Job purpose To provide a professional first point of contact for patients and act as a central point of communication between patients, clinicians and the wider primary healthcare team. Main duties and responsibilities Record patient arrivals on EMIS Web and direct patients to the appropriate consulting or treatment room. Use practice signposting and reception protocols to direct patients to the most appropriate service. Manage patients without appointments who require urgent advice in accordance with practice protocols, escalating concerns to a clinician or appropriate team when necessary. Process new patient registrations, check the reception email inbox daily and confirm patients reside within the practice catchment area. Explain practice arrangements and requirements to new and temporary patients, ensuring registration procedures are completed accurately. Take payments for private services and issue receipts in accordance with practice procedures, referring concerns to the secretarial team. Respond to patient and visitor enquiries professionally and promptly. Add home visit requests to the Urgent Care Team for review. Check the NHS 111 list regularly and ensure relevant patients are transferred to the Urgent Care Team for same-day GP review. Manage laboratory results received by telephone promptly and in accordance with practice protocols. Record patient signposting accurately using the appropriate EMIS Web template. Review incoming online consultation requests and process them in line with practice protocols, directing them to the appropriate clinician or service and escalating where necessary. Maintain familiarity with the appointment system, including routine and ad hoc changes. Book appointments in accordance with practice policy, seeking guidance from the Reception Supervisor when required. Ensure patient details on EMIS Web are accurate and up to date, including address, contact details and personal information. Receive and make telephone calls, transfer or divert calls appropriately, and ensure telephone systems are operational at the start of the day and switched to the out-of-hours service at the end of the day. Maintain a clean, tidy and welcoming reception and waiting area. Respond to spillages or bodily fluids in accordance with infection prevention and control procedures, including the safe use of spill kits where required. Complete a clear end-of-shift handover, communicating outstanding tasks, unresolved issues and relevant information to incoming staff. Receive and check deliveries, signing for items as required. Ensure vaccines are recorded in the appropriate log, passed promptly to the nursing team and stored correctly. Forward invoices and delivery notes to the Deputy Practice Manager. Notify relevant staff of deliveries and ensure prescription paper deliveries are reported to the Prescriptions Team for logging and secure storage. To act as a chaperone during patient consultations or examinations when required, in accordance with the practice's Chaperone Policy. The post-holder must undertake any required training and follow the practice's procedures to ensure patient dignity, privacy and confidentiality are maintained. Inform the Deputy Practice Manager of damage, faulty equipment, complaints and other issues requiring attention. Undertake other reasonable duties in accordance with the needs of the practice. Understand and maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with information governance standards. Undertake and maintain appropriate safeguarding training.

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