Bed Flow Manager: Hospital Capacity & Patient Flow

NHS Scotland; Greenock; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

NHS Pension

Car benefit scheme

Study bursaries

Learning opportunities

Holiday pay enhancements

Staff discounts

Counselling services

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking an experienced and resilient professional to lead operational bed management and patient flow at Inverclyde Royal Hospital. The role requires clear decision‑making, strong communication and the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

The post focuses on safe patient placement, discharge planning and collaboration with flow teams, ward staff, clinicians and community partners to minimise delays and uphold patient safety and care quality.

Qualifications

• Experienced, confident and resilient practitioner with ability to lead across professional boundaries.
• Sound judgement, strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise under pressure.
• Clear commitment to patient safety, quality of care and effective hospital flow.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an accurate real-time bed state for RAH and IRH during each shift, ensuring information is current, reliable and available to support safe operational decision-making.
• Coordinate the flow of emergency and elective patients through RAH and IRH, supporting safe and timely access to beds and contributing to the achievement of Board and national performance targets.
• Minimise unnecessary patient moves, support safe and appropriate patient placement, ensure infection prevention and control guidance is followed, and support compliance with single-sex accommodation requirements.
• Collate, maintain and be accountable for the accuracy of bed management data required for internal and external reporting, including the appropriate use of electronic systems.
• Apply knowledge of physiological, pathological, social and cultural factors that may influence patient care, placement decisions and discharge planning.
• Liaise with other agencies and NHS Boards to support timely and safe repatriation of patients to their host organisations within agreed timescales.
• Monitor trigger factors associated with site pressures and, when required, implement the Board’s escalation policy in line with agreed governance and reporting arrangements.
• Proactively liaise with flow teams, ward teams, medical staff, nursing staff, AHPs and community colleagues to support discharge planning and ensure patients are discharged safely with minimal delay.
• Maintain strong links with community agencies and partner services, fostering effective working relationships that support patient flow, safe discharge and continuity of care.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with senior clinical and operational colleagues, escalating risks, capacity concerns and patient safety issues in a timely and appropriate manner.

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking an experienced and resilient professional to lead operational bed management and patient flow at Inverclyde Royal Hospital. The role requires clear decision‑making, strong communication and the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

The post focuses on safe patient placement, discharge planning and collaboration with flow teams, ward staff, clinicians and community partners to minimise delays and uphold patient safety and care quality.