Swarland Avenue Surgery

Medical Receptionist

The closing date is 08 February 2026

Job summary

Our aim is to provide a high quality, caring and personal health care service to our whole patient population by

  • Putting our patients at the centre of what we do
  • Having a highly qualified and trained multi-professional integrated primary Healthcare Team
  • Offering our services in a safe, supportive and suitably equipped environment, using technological advances in healthcare systems for our patients benefit.

Main duties of the job

Reception duties:

  • Answering the telephone, booking appointments and conveying messages
  • Managing requests for repeat prescriptions an liaising with pharmacy when appropriate
  • Managing, maintaining and distributing the mail, emails and other incoming communications
  • Ensuring that patients receive reliable information and sound advice drawing on GPs/other staff as appropriate
  • Explaining practice arrangements to new patients
  • Ensuring that all incoming calls are received in a timely manner whilst ensuring appropriate attention is given to every patient. Diverting or pass messages to other team members where appropriate.
  • Arranging transport for patients for high risk register patients
  • Charging patients the appropriate amount for private work, providing a receipt to the patient and recording the charge in the petty cash book
  • Helping with the sorting and filing of medical records
  • Recording appropriate notes on patient records in accordance with practice protocols and good record keeping guidance
  • Distribution and collection of questionnaires
  • Ensuring the procedure for opening and closing the Surgery is carried out, including making sure security is given priority.
  • Actively participating in staff and other meetings
  • Maintaining a list of surgery contacts including staff telephone numbers, partner organisation contact numbers.
  • Provide support in carrying out administrative tasks

About us

We are a small, friendly and hard working team. We provide training and support to all staff. We strive to provide the very best services for our patient population.

Staff can access the NHS pension scheme.

Details

Date posted

20 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

A1326-26-0001

Job locations

Swarland Avenue Surgery

2 Swarland Avenue

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7TH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary:

Support delivery of smooth running of the reception area

Support deliver of smooth running of the back office and administrative tasks

Job responsibilities:

Reception duties:

  • Answering the telephone and conveying messages
  • Managing requests for repeat prescriptions and liaising with pharmacy when appropriate
  • Checking prescription box for repeat prescription requests
  • Managing, maintaining and distributing the mail, emails and other incoming communications
  • Ensuring that patients receive reliable information and sound advice drawing on GPs/other staff as appropriate
  • Explaining practice arrangements to new patients
  • Ensuring that all incoming calls are received in a timely manner whilst ensuring appropriate attention is given to every patient. Diverting or pass messages to other team members where appropriate.
  • Charging patients the appropriate amount for private work, providing a receipt to the patient and recording the charge in the petty cash book
  • Helping with the sorting and filing of medical records
  • Maintaining outgoing lab specimen collection system in a manner suited to the needs of the practice; taking into consideration time cut off for the courier
  • Recording appropriate notes on patient records in accordance with practice protocols and good record keeping guidance
  • Distribution and collection of questionnaires
  • Ensuring the procedure for opening and closing the Surgery is carried out, including making sure security is given priority.
  • Actively participating in staff and other meetings
  • Ensure that Consulting Rooms are clean and tidy prior to the start of each surgery, including checking there are enough paper/scripts in printers and any other stationary required.
  • Maintaining a list of surgery contacts including staff telephone numbers, partner organisation contact numbers
  • Provide support in carrying out administrative tasks
  • Carry out other duties deemed appropriate

Confidentiality:

  • In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
  • In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
  • Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will include:

  • Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
  • Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
  • Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
  • Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way, free from hazards
  • Actively reporting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
  • Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role
  • Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
  • Reporting potential risks identified
  • Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Equality and diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

  • Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
  • Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
  • Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/professional development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

  • Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
  • Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

  • Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
  • Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
  • Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
  • Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
  • Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

  • Communicate effectively with other team members
  • Communicate effectively with patients and carers
  • Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the implementation of services:

The post-holder will:

  • Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
  • Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
  • Participate in audit where appropriate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary:

Support delivery of smooth running of the reception area

Support deliver of smooth running of the back office and administrative tasks

Job responsibilities:

Reception duties:

  • Answering the telephone and conveying messages
  • Managing requests for repeat prescriptions and liaising with pharmacy when appropriate
  • Checking prescription box for repeat prescription requests
  • Managing, maintaining and distributing the mail, emails and other incoming communications
  • Ensuring that patients receive reliable information and sound advice drawing on GPs/other staff as appropriate
  • Explaining practice arrangements to new patients
  • Ensuring that all incoming calls are received in a timely manner whilst ensuring appropriate attention is given to every patient. Diverting or pass messages to other team members where appropriate.
  • Charging patients the appropriate amount for private work, providing a receipt to the patient and recording the charge in the petty cash book
  • Helping with the sorting and filing of medical records
  • Maintaining outgoing lab specimen collection system in a manner suited to the needs of the practice; taking into consideration time cut off for the courier
  • Recording appropriate notes on patient records in accordance with practice protocols and good record keeping guidance
  • Distribution and collection of questionnaires
  • Ensuring the procedure for opening and closing the Surgery is carried out, including making sure security is given priority.
  • Actively participating in staff and other meetings
  • Ensure that Consulting Rooms are clean and tidy prior to the start of each surgery, including checking there are enough paper/scripts in printers and any other stationary required.
  • Maintaining a list of surgery contacts including staff telephone numbers, partner organisation contact numbers
  • Provide support in carrying out administrative tasks
  • Carry out other duties deemed appropriate

Confidentiality:

  • In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
  • In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
  • Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will include:

  • Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
  • Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
  • Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
  • Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way, free from hazards
  • Actively reporting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
  • Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role
  • Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
  • Reporting potential risks identified
  • Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Equality and diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

  • Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
  • Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
  • Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/professional development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

  • Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
  • Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

  • Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
  • Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
  • Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
  • Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
  • Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

  • Communicate effectively with other team members
  • Communicate effectively with patients and carers
  • Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the implementation of services:

The post-holder will:

  • Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
  • Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
  • Participate in audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 4 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above OR equivalent

Desirable

  • Attainment of NVQ Level 3 in business administration or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in dealing with patients or members of the public.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an administrative environment and working with computerised data systems.
  • Experience in working directly with clinicians, managers, and other staff on patient related concerns.
  • Experience working in the NHS.

Additional Skills

Essential

  • Clear communicator with good telephone manner
  • Well-developed IT and keyboard skills
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word
  • Proactive can work using own initiative and organise and prioritise to deadlines
  • Team Player works effectively with other team members and is supportive of them
  • Flexible willing and prepared to undertake work across the Team
  • Deals calmly and sensitively with dynamic situations and sometimes sensitive and upsetting issues
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 4 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above OR equivalent

Desirable

  • Attainment of NVQ Level 3 in business administration or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in dealing with patients or members of the public.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an administrative environment and working with computerised data systems.
  • Experience in working directly with clinicians, managers, and other staff on patient related concerns.
  • Experience working in the NHS.

Additional Skills

Essential

  • Clear communicator with good telephone manner
  • Well-developed IT and keyboard skills
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word
  • Proactive can work using own initiative and organise and prioritise to deadlines
  • Team Player works effectively with other team members and is supportive of them
  • Flexible willing and prepared to undertake work across the Team
  • Deals calmly and sensitively with dynamic situations and sometimes sensitive and upsetting issues

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Swarland Avenue Surgery

Address

Swarland Avenue Surgery

2 Swarland Avenue

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7TH


Employer's website

http://swarlandavenuesurgery.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Swarland Avenue Surgery

Address

Swarland Avenue Surgery

2 Swarland Avenue

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7TH


Employer's website

http://swarlandavenuesurgery.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operations Manager

Mrs Joanne Todd

joanne.todd2@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

20 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

A1326-26-0001

Job locations

Swarland Avenue Surgery

2 Swarland Avenue

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7TH


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