Band 3- Receptionist/Administrator, Cardiology in Watford

We are looking to appoint a motivated individual to join our Cardiology Administration Team. It is a friendly team fulfilling a vital front line service. The advertised hours are required to cover service needs. You will cover both Watford General Hospital and Hemel Hempstead Hospital. It is essential that this work is carried out accurately and efficiently, as it is important that the patient experience is a positive one during what can be a very worrying time. You must be able to demonstrate that you have the necessary organisational, administrative and communication skills, the ability to work under pressure and use your own initiative, as well as excellent telephone skills.

Main duties of the job:

• Use the referral management centre where new patient referrals are registered onto our hospital patient administration system each day.
• Handle face‑to‑face interactions at the busy reception desks, ensuring patients are booked and directed to the appropriate waiting areas.
• Handle large volumes of calls, calling and agreeing outpatient appointments with patients and dealing with other appointment‑related queries.

Working for our organisation:

With a new hospital planned for Watford, works underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Provide a first‑class administrative service for the Cardiology service.
• Act as the first point of contact for GPs, patients, carers and relatives attending for Cardiology appointments, ensuring appropriate messages are passed onto the relevant staff in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the overall efficient and effective running of all designated services by tracking patients throughout their pathway and scheduling appointments appropriately to ensure compliance with waiting time standards.
• Alert the Administration Manager of any potential problems in meeting waiting time targets.
• Ensure that new and follow‑up appointments are booked, appropriate letters generated and that reports/outcome are circulated to referring clinicians.
• Ensure the Electronic Referral System is monitored on a daily basis.
• Ensure that all cardiology tests are available when patients are seen in the outpatient seating.
• Work closely with the Administration Manager, clinicians and nurse specialists across sites, and provide cover for colleagues during annual leave, sickness and busy periods, including cross‑site where required.
• Have a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and be comfortable with electronic systems, being able to adjust to cross‑platform working.
• Perform any other appropriate administration duties as required by the Administration Manager.

Education and qualifications:

• 5 GCSEs, graded at C or above, or equivalent.
• Medical terminology qualification.
• ECDL Service training.

Knowledge:

• Competent in Microsoft Office programs.
• Understanding of information governance issues and how to manage confidential patient information and the Data Protection Act.
• Knowledge of Patient Administration Systems, e.g. EPR, Infoflex.

Experience:

• Experience of working in a customer‑orientated environment.
• Previous working in an administrative role.
• Able to handle confidential information.
• Previous experience of working in a hospital administrative role.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.