Medical Secretary
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £14 to £14.49 an hour |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | London, SE20 8QA |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 6 Nov 2026 |
| Closing date: | 20 Nov 2026 |
Summary
Main Duties and Responsibilities The Medical Secretary will provide a comprehensive and efficient secretarial and administrative service to GPs and other healthcare professionals, supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the practice and the effective coordination of patient care. Secretarial and Administrative Support Provide a high-quality audio typing, copy typing and word-processing service for GPs and other healthcare professionals. Accurately prepare clinical letters, reports, patient referrals and other correspondence as required. Use Lexacom or other practice dictation systems to process clinician correspondence efficiently and accurately. Undertake general clerical and administrative duties to support clinicians and the wider practice team. Manage incoming and outgoing post, emails and electronic correspondence. Establish and maintain effective filing and administrative systems, ensuring information is accurate, easily accessible and stored securely. Referrals and Patient Coordination Manage all aspects of the NHS e-Referral Service (eRS), including processing referrals, booking appointments where appropriate and ensuring relevant clinical information and attachments are included. Monitor and follow up referrals and associated correspondence where required. Liaise effectively with patients, GPs, consultants, hospital departments and other healthcare professionals and external organisations. Act as a point of contact for referral and administrative queries, ensuring enquiries are dealt with appropriately and within a timely manner. Patient Records and Documentation Use Docman to process, scan and file correspondence and other documentation into patients' electronic medical records. Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records using EMIS and other practice systems. Retrieve medical records and relevant information as required. Assist with the preparation and completion of medical reports, insurance reports and other requests for medical information. Ensure that all records and correspondence are processed accurately and in accordance with practice procedures. Communication Receive incoming and initiate outgoing telephone calls to patients, hospitals, healthcare professionals and other organisations. Take accurate messages and appropriately manage or redirect queries. Communicate professionally, sensitively and effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and external organisations. Recognise individual communication needs and respond appropriately. Maintain a professional, courteous and helpful manner at all times. Confidentiality and Information Governance Maintain strict confidentiality at all times in relation to patients, carers, staff and the business of the practice. Ensure confidential and sensitive information is only disclosed to appropriately authorised persons and in accordance with practice policies, procedures and applicable data protection requirements. Respect the privacy and dignity of patients and ensure that information is handled securely and appropriately. Team Working and Practice Support Work collaboratively with GPs, healthcare professionals and administrative colleagues to support the effective running of the practice. Provide cover for other members of the secretarial and administrative team during periods of sickness, annual leave or other absence. Provide occasional reception or general administrative support where required. Work effectively with hospitals and other external healthcare organisations to support patients' needs. Manage own workload, priorities and resources effectively, escalating concerns where appropriate. Contribute to the effectiveness of the wider team and identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and services. Quality, Safety and Governance Follow practice policies, procedures, standards and guidance relevant to the role. Maintain high standards of accuracy and quality in all work undertaken. Identify and report issues relating to quality, patient safety or risk to the appropriate member of the practice team. Comply with the practice's health and safety procedures and promptly report any areas of concern. Participate in audits and quality improvement activities where appropriate. Take responsibility for own work and actions, working within agreed procedures and seeking guidance where necessary. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Support and respect the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues. Treat individuals with dignity, courtesy and respect, taking account of their circumstances, needs, beliefs and rights. Provide a welcoming, inclusive and non-judgemental service to all patients and visitors. Training and Professional Development Attend training sessions and meetings relevant to the role and the needs of the practice. Participate in annual appraisal/performance review processes. Take responsibility for maintaining and developing the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out the role effectively. Participate in mandatory and practice-specific training as required. Share knowledge and support colleagues undertaking similar work where appropriate. Additional Responsibilities Undertake other duties appropriate to the role as reasonably required to support the efficient running of the practice. Be flexible in responding to changing service and operational requirements. The duties and responsibilities of the post may be reviewed periodically to reflect developments within the practice and general practice services. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the Practice. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the Practice.