At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide friendly and efficient reception services to patients and visitors.
- Company: Woolpit Health Centre, a caring and dedicated medical practice.
- Benefits: Attractive pay, generous leave, training opportunities, and NHS pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for voluntary overtime available.
- Why this job: Join a supportive team and make a real difference in patient care.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience, strong communication skills, and IT proficiency.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 € per year.
Woolpit Health Centre is seeking a professional and personable medical receptionist to join our busy and dedicated team on a part-time basis for 30 hours per week. Core hours for this post are:
- Monday 08:00 – 18:00 (1/2 hour lunch break)
- Tuesday 13:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday 08:00 – 13:00
- Thursday 13:00 – 18:00
- Friday 13:00 – 18:30
Please only apply if you can work within the core hours of the service. Flexibility is essential for this role as the successful candidate will be required to adjust their working hours in line with service demands, including covering shifts at short notice when necessary. This is a key role within the practice, focused on delivering a friendly, efficient, and high-quality service to our patients while supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the practice.
Key duties will include:
- Ensure that an effective and efficient reception service is provided to patients and any other visitors to the practice
- Deal with all general enquiries and explain surgery procedures
- Answer the telephone and call navigating to appropriate clinicians or healthcare professionals depending on the presenting condition
- Book, amend and cancel patient’s appointments, ensuring optimum efficiency of the appointment system
- Monitor and process online requests via Anima alongside the duty GPs
- Receive and record requests for home visits, ensuring clinicians have the necessary paperwork
- Undertake various administrative actions such as scanning and uploading patient documentation as part of the workflow process, ensuring that correspondence such as reports and results are filed electronically in the correct patient’s record
- Open up/lock up of practice premises and maintaining security
- Process and distribute incoming and outgoing mail
- Take messages accurately and pass on information
General practice is a challenging environment that requires a calm and caring approach with the ability to work under pressure. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated team player who has customer service/patient experience, offers excellent communication skills, and has the following attributes:
- Ability to work in a polite, confidential and discreet manner, respecting patients and colleagues at all times.
- Experience of working with the general public, being sensitive and empathic in distressing situations.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Strong IT and administration skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Previous medical or healthcare receptionist experience is desirable.
Some flexibility is required, as you will sometimes need to work additional or alternative hours to cover for colleagues. All applicants should ensure that they live within reasonable commuting distance.
Based in the Suffolk village of Woolpit, the Health Centre aims to provide the type of care that we would expect for ourselves and our own families. We provide services to over 16,000 patients who live in a practice area of 75 square miles of rural West Suffolk, straddling the A14, between Thurston in the west, and Haughley in the east. We pride ourselves on the high standards of our care; we are holders of the Royal College of General Practitioners Practice Accreditation Award, a quality mark held by only 19 practices in the UK. Our 5 GP partners and 7 non-partner GPs lead a multidisciplinary team of nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists and midwives all of whom are based in our purpose-built premises.
Benefits of working for Woolpit Health Centre include:
- Attractive rates of pay with annual pay review (not agenda for change)
- Regular one-to-ones to aid good communication
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Voluntary overtime when available
- Plenty of training opportunities
- Membership of the NHS contributory pension scheme including: Life insurance, family benefits including an adult dependants pension and children’s pension, ill health benefits, 20% employer contribution
- Free uniform
- Option of NHS discount and Blue Light Card for retail/dining/holidays etc
We are proud to have received a ‘Good’ rating across all areas of the Practice following our CQC inspection in January 2026.
Please note this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Receptionist in Woolpit employer: Primary Care Careers
Woolpit Health Centre is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and friendly work environment in the picturesque village of Woolpit, Suffolk. With a commitment to high-quality patient care, employees benefit from attractive pay rates, generous annual leave, and numerous training opportunities, all while being part of a dedicated team that values communication and professional growth. The practice's strong reputation, evidenced by its 'Good' CQC rating, ensures that staff are proud to contribute to a service that prioritises the well-being of over 16,000 patients.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Receptionist in Woolpit
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the practice! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Woolpit Health Centre. Familiarise yourself with their services and values. This will help you show genuine interest and tailor your responses to what they’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common receptionist interview questions, like how you handle difficult patients or manage multiple tasks. Role-playing with a friend can help you feel more confident and articulate during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your people skills! As a receptionist, you'll be the first point of contact for patients. During your interview, highlight your customer service experience and how you’ve handled challenging situations with empathy and professionalism.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a nice touch that shows you’re keen and professional, and it keeps you fresh in their minds!
We think you need these skills to ace Receptionist in Woolpit
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Personality:As a receptionist, you'll be the first point of contact for our patients. Make sure your application reflects your friendly and approachable nature. Use a warm tone in your cover letter to show us how you connect with people.
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you've worked in customer service or healthcare before, let us know! Share specific examples of how you've handled enquiries or managed appointments. This will help us see how you'd fit into our busy team.
Be Detail-Oriented:Attention to detail is key in this role. When filling out your application, double-check for any typos or errors. A polished application shows us that you care about accuracy, which is crucial for managing patient records.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you have all the latest info about the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone!
How to prepare for a job interview at Primary Care Careers
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a medical receptionist at Woolpit Health Centre. Familiarise yourself with their core hours and the specific duties mentioned in the job description, such as handling patient enquiries and managing appointments.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a receptionist, you'll be the first point of contact for patients. During the interview, highlight your customer service experience and provide examples of how you've handled difficult situations with empathy and professionalism. This will demonstrate that you can maintain a calm and caring approach under pressure.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility
Flexibility is key for this role, so be prepared to discuss your availability and willingness to cover shifts at short notice. Share any past experiences where you've had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, as this will show that you're ready to meet the demands of the practice.
✨Prepare Questions
At the end of the interview, you'll likely have the chance to ask questions. Prepare thoughtful queries about the team dynamics, training opportunities, or how they ensure high standards of care. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
