Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Secretary

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Join Our Team as a Key Departmental Secretary in Obstetrics and Gynaecology!

Are you someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and loves being the go-to person who keeps everything running smoothly? In this vital role, you'll provide comprehensive secretarial support to our Obstetrics and Gynaecology Consultants, specialist nurses, and clinicians -- becoming an essential part of a compassionate and dedicated team.

You'll often work independently, using your initiative and problem-solving skills to handle enquiries and ensure seamless office operations, especially when clinicians are unavailable. Your excellent communication skills will shine as you connect with patients, families, medical professionals, and allied health colleagues -- always delivering a warm, professional, and efficient service that meets the needs of our patients.

If you're organized, proactive, and ready to make a real difference behind the scenes, this role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of a dynamic healthcare team.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a vital communication hub for all medical, professional, and allied healthcare staff both within the Trust and with external organisations. Use your judgement and expertise to ensure enquiries are handled smoothly and effectively, facilitating successful outcomes for everyone involved.

  • Handle sensitive conversations with patients and relatives thoughtfully and discreetly, demonstrating tact, patience, and empathy

  • Work independently to manage incoming mail and emails, sorting, distributing, and prioritising correspondence with sound judgement.

  • Coordinate closely with the bookings team to arrange timely appointments for patients on Referral to Treatment (RTT) or cancer pathways, supporting seamless patient care.

  • Actively support the progress of patient pathways--especially those on the cancer pathway--to ensure all targets and deadlines are met, working alongside the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Service Manager.

  • Manage typing and processing of outstanding correspondence through BigHand, proactively chasing approvals, results, and investigations to keep clinicians informed and actions on track.
  • Maintain electronic diaries for the team, expertly organising appointments, meetings, and office arrangements to keep the department running smoothly

  • Communicate promptly any changes to consultant availability, keeping relevant staff informed and services running without interruption.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Details

Date posted

13 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-COR0957-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached documents below for more information of Job Description and Person Specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached documents below for more information of Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good general level of education to GCSE level, or equivalent

Desirable

  • Medical Secretarial Qualification
  • Computer course

Experience

Essential

  • Secretarial Experience
  • Typing Experience
  • Customer/ patient service experience

Desirable

  • NHS administrative experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Awareness of issues of confidentiality
  • NHS patient pathways

Desirable

  • Use of Trust IT systems i.e. BigHand, IPM, MediViewer
  • Medical terminology in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Personal Characteristics

Essential

  • Flexible Team Worker
  • Organised & Self-motivated
  • Excellent written skills and attention to detail

Desirable

  • Dealing with Complaints
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good general level of education to GCSE level, or equivalent

Desirable

  • Medical Secretarial Qualification
  • Computer course

Experience

Essential

  • Secretarial Experience
  • Typing Experience
  • Customer/ patient service experience

Desirable

  • NHS administrative experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Awareness of issues of confidentiality
  • NHS patient pathways

Desirable

  • Use of Trust IT systems i.e. BigHand, IPM, MediViewer
  • Medical terminology in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Personal Characteristics

Essential

  • Flexible Team Worker
  • Organised & Self-motivated
  • Excellent written skills and attention to detail

Desirable

  • Dealing with Complaints

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Service Manager

Rebecca Lees

rebecca.lees@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

07827902248

Details

Date posted

13 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-COR0957-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)