At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead patient access operations, ensuring a seamless journey for patients from first contact to admission.
- Company: Join King Edward VII's Hospital, a respected independent healthcare provider in London.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, health insurance, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Be part of Bupa, a global healthcare leader, with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on patient experiences and operational excellence in healthcare.
- Qualifications: Significant operational management experience in healthcare or complex service environments required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
- King Edward VII's Hospital, 5-10 Beaumont Street, Marylebone, London W1G 6AA
- Permanent (37.5hrs) On-Site
- Competitive Salary + Fantastic Benefits
- We make health happen
At King Edward VII's Hospital, exceptional healthcare begins long before treatment starts.
As our Head of Patient Access, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring patients, consultants and colleagues experience a seamless, efficient and exceptional journey from first contact through to admission and beyond.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you'll provide senior operational leadership across a diverse portfolio including Contact Centre, Reservations, Front of House and Security services.
You'll also lead the Hospital's Business Continuity Planning and Sustainability Strategy, helping to ensure operational resilience while supporting the delivery of our long-term strategic objectives.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced operational leader to influence patient access, optimise capacity and service utilisation, lead transformational improvement programmes and enhance patient and consultant experience within one of the UK's most respected independent hospitals.
You’ll be at the heart of our commitment to delivering exceptional service, creating an environment where teams thrive, operational excellence is embedded and patients receive the highest standards of care and support.
- How you'll help us make health happen
- Lead the Contact Centre and Reservations functions, ensuring responsive, accurate and patient-centred enquiry, booking and admission processes.
- Provide senior leadership and oversight for Front of House, reception, portering and Security services, ensuring a safe, welcoming and efficient environment for patients, consultants and visitors.
- Work closely with Heads of Department, Finance and Transformation teams to understand demand, capacity and service utilisation, identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency and maximise available resources.
- Develop and maintain operational performance reporting, using activity, productivity, capacity, utilisation and financial data to identify trends, bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
- Drive service improvement, transformation and process redesign initiatives that enhance patient access, operational performance and patient experience.
- Lead the Hospital's Business Continuity Planning and operational resilience programme, ensuring plans are maintained, tested and aligned to organisational requirements.
- Lead delivery of the Hospital's Sustainability Strategy, working collaboratively across departments and with Bupa to embed sustainable practices and monitor progress against agreed objectives.
- Provide visible leadership to managers and teams across the portfolio, ensuring effective workforce management, performance development and delivery against agreed objectives.
- Manage delegated budgets, contracts and supplier relationships, identifying opportunities for efficiencies while maintaining safety, quality and experience standards.
- Work collaboratively with consultants, clinical teams, senior leaders, Bupa teams and external partners to support organisational objectives and service excellence.
- Ensure risks, incidents, complaints, audit actions and service issues are appropriately managed, providing assurance and performance updates to the Chief Operating Officer.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and exceptional customer service across all patient access functions.
- Key Skills / Qualifications
- Significant senior operational management experience within healthcare or another complex, highly regulated service environment.
- Strong leadership experience across multiple operational services, with responsibility for managers, teams, suppliers and outsourced or managed service providers.
- Experience leading patient access, customer contact, booking, admissions or comparable high-volume service operations.
- Strong analytical and commercial skills, with experience using capacity, utilisation, productivity, financial and performance data to drive operational improvement.
- Proven experience delivering service improvement, operational transformation or process redesign programmes.
- Knowledge of business continuity, operational resilience and risk management, with the ability to coordinate organisation-wide planning and improvement activities.
- Understanding of sustainability principles and experience translating strategic objectives into measurable operational outcomes.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills with the ability to build strong relationships across clinical, operational and executive teams.
- Experience managing budgets, contracts and third-party supplier relationships.
- Degree-level qualification in Healthcare Management, Business, Operations or a related discipline, or equivalent substantial senior operational experience.
- Postgraduate qualification in Management, Leadership, Service Improvement, Project Management or Change Management.
- Experience within an independent healthcare or private hospital environment.
Our benefits are designed to make health happen for our people.
Viva is our global wellbeing programme and includes all aspects of our health - from mental and physical, to financial, social, and environmental wellbeing.
We support flexible working and have a range of family friendly benefits.
- Joining Bupa in this role you will receive the following benefits and more:
- Payment of professional registration fees
- Equivalent to 25 days holiday per year, increasing through length of service, with option to buy or sell.
- Bupa health insurance as a benefit in kind
- An enhanced pension plan and life insurance
- Various other benefits and online discounts
- Part of a Globally Trusted Healthcare Group
When you join King Edward VII, you also become part of Bupa - a global healthcare leader with the scale, stability and expertise of a major international brand.
Being backed by Bupa means access to an extensive network of clinical and operational specialists, shared best practice from across the organisation, and the support of well-established systems that help you grow, develop and deliver exceptional care.
Our size gives us strength, while our purpose keeps us personal.
We champion diversity and want our people to reflect the communities we serve.
Everyone is encouraged to "Be you at Bupa", and we actively welcome colleagues from all backgrounds and experiences.
Bupa takes pride in being a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will aim to offer an interview/assessment to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum criteria for the role.
We're committed to ensuring you're treated fairly during the recruitment process and offer reasonable adjustments to anyone who may benefit from accommodations to the recruitment process.
Head of Patient Access in London employer: Bupa
Bupa Mindplace in Dartford is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional development. With flexible shifts and a focus on delivering high-quality therapy, employees benefit from a dynamic environment that encourages growth and collaboration, making it an ideal place for those passionate about mental health care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Patient Access in London
✨Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives
Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like Bupa.
✨Tap into Professional Associations
Check out associations like the Institute of Healthcare Management. They often have job boards, networking events, and conferences that are perfect for connecting with potential employers in health sciences administration.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at Bupa.
✨Apply Through Our Website for Better Visibility
When you find roles that excite you, especially at places like Bupa, don’t forget to apply through our website. This can sometimes give you an edge by showing the employer you’re savvy and committed to finding the right fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Patient Access in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Bupa.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Bupa.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Bupa. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Bupa. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bupa
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Bupa’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
