Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Trust Medical Secretary - Rheumatology

The closing date is 26 November 2025

Job summary

**12 months Fixed term contract/secondment opportunity **

Rheumatology is very excited to have the opportunity to advertise for a secretary we want to hear from YOU!

Who are we?The Rheumatology team is comprised of doctors, nurses and administration staff. We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated, hard-working and flexible person to assist with the smooth running of this busy department. Our dedicated clinical team are at the forefront of innovation and work collaboratively as a multi-disciplinary team to strive for excellence in patient care.

The successful candidate will be expected to have excellent communication and organisational skills. They will have the ability to manage and prioritise workloads accordingly, as well as work as part of the wider team. A high level of attention to detail and accuracy and an understanding of patient confidentiality is essential.

Please view the attached job description for full details of the post, and make sure to refer to the job specification when submitting your application

We would love for you to join us. You are the future of the NNUH. What are you waiting for? - apply now!

If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will act as point of contact for all communication between consultants, patients, relatives and a wide range of multi-disciplinary staff. They will assist in the management of office administration and provide an effective secretarial service, ensuring continuity of service across the specialty.

To support the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service, all staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently demonstrate NNUH's 'PRIDE' values of People focused, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence and demonstrate behaviours that support and encourage an inclusive culture.

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

  • Flexible working hours
  • Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
  • Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
  • Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
  • Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
  • Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
  • On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
  • On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
  • Support in career development
  • Flexible staff bank
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Details

Date posted

06 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-25-H0140-A

Job locations

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquiries from patients, all levels of medical and nursing staff, GPs, Social Services and other health professionals and staff. Respond to enquiries, providing routine and non-routine information and non-clinical advice, resolving problems where possible. Communicate appropriately with patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have sensitive concerns needing reassurance and who may present difficulties in communication e.g. terminally ill patients, deaf patients, mentally ill patients and elderly confused patients.
  • Attend to all communications, for example, emails, faxes, investigation results on a daily basis and prioritising and actioning as required.
  • Accurately transcribe all correspondence by touch typing from audio / digital dictation or shorthand using knowledge of medical terminology. Generate routine and non-routine correspondence independently.
  • Assist patients and their Carers by arranging translation/interpretation facilities.
  • Demonstrate and maintain knowledge and understanding of Trust RTT policy.
  • Update RTT in accordance with Trust guidelines. Assist the Administration and Clerical team with data management utilising PAS and other departmental patient databases.
  • Complete the Tertiary referral proforma/template for internal/external referrals as per Trust policy.
  • Promptly action clinical investigations, results and outcomes. Utilise Trust reports to service and administer waiting lists, which may include outpatient, inpatient and waiting lists as required in local work area, escalating to senior staff as required.
  • Adding patients to waiting lists as requested taking into account the urgency of the case and the patients preference.
  • Arrange urgent admissions direct from clinic and ambulatory care areas, contacting the patient and liaising with ward/theatre/clinics as required.
  • Support meetings with minute taking as necessary.
  • Maintain diaries as appropriate.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 4211 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquiries from patients, all levels of medical and nursing staff, GPs, Social Services and other health professionals and staff. Respond to enquiries, providing routine and non-routine information and non-clinical advice, resolving problems where possible. Communicate appropriately with patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have sensitive concerns needing reassurance and who may present difficulties in communication e.g. terminally ill patients, deaf patients, mentally ill patients and elderly confused patients.
  • Attend to all communications, for example, emails, faxes, investigation results on a daily basis and prioritising and actioning as required.
  • Accurately transcribe all correspondence by touch typing from audio / digital dictation or shorthand using knowledge of medical terminology. Generate routine and non-routine correspondence independently.
  • Assist patients and their Carers by arranging translation/interpretation facilities.
  • Demonstrate and maintain knowledge and understanding of Trust RTT policy.
  • Update RTT in accordance with Trust guidelines. Assist the Administration and Clerical team with data management utilising PAS and other departmental patient databases.
  • Complete the Tertiary referral proforma/template for internal/external referrals as per Trust policy.
  • Promptly action clinical investigations, results and outcomes. Utilise Trust reports to service and administer waiting lists, which may include outpatient, inpatient and waiting lists as required in local work area, escalating to senior staff as required.
  • Adding patients to waiting lists as requested taking into account the urgency of the case and the patients preference.
  • Arrange urgent admissions direct from clinic and ambulatory care areas, contacting the patient and liaising with ward/theatre/clinics as required.
  • Support meetings with minute taking as necessary.
  • Maintain diaries as appropriate.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 4211 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • RSA III or equivalent experience
  • Good general standard of literacy and numeracy

Experience

Essential

  • Working knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Office packages, including Word, Excel, Outlook

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • Able to work both independently and as part of a team

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • RSA III or equivalent experience
  • Good general standard of literacy and numeracy

Experience

Essential

  • Working knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Office packages, including Word, Excel, Outlook

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • Able to work both independently and as part of a team

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://teamnnuh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://teamnnuh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Administration Manager

Natalie Hardingham

natalie.hardingham@nnuh.nhs.uk

01603288004

Details

Date posted

06 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-25-H0140-A

Job locations

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Supporting documents

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