Cancer RDS Coordinator

EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in England is seeking an Administrative Support professional to provide full administrative assistance to the Rapid Diagnostic Services. The role involves managing patient referrals, coordinating with medical staff, and handling sensitive information. Applicants should possess strong communication skills, GCSE English, and experience with Microsoft Office. This role requires the ability to prioritize tasks efficiently and support a dynamic team in a healthcare setting, contributing significantly to patient care and service delivery.

Qualifications

• GCSE English at level 4 or above or equivalent.
• Proven communication and organizational skills.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office packages.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prioritize enquiries from GPs and patients regarding cancer referrals.
• Monitor e-mail systems and coordinate distribution of test results.
• Maintain excellent communication with patients and professionals.

Skills

Communication skills

Computer literacy

Organizational skills

Ability to prioritize

Education

GCSE English at level 4 or above

RSA/OCR II typewriting

Tools

Microsoft Office

Winscribe system

Job description

Overview

To provide full administrative support to the Rapid Diagnostic Services currently provided by the trust, including Colorectal, UGI, Urology and HPB. The role will involve proactive tracking and escalation at the first point of the pathway when patients are referred to the trust with a suspected cancer, liaising with patients, primary care staff and trust staff to facilitate patients accessing the correct pathway.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prioritise enquiries and queries from GPs, nurses and patients regarding suspected cancer referrals, both face‑to‑face and via telephone, email and written correspondence.
• Open and prioritise general correspondence, post and email, ensuring that urgent matters are raised with the appropriate professional.
• Retrieve and prioritise correspondence received by e‑mail or mail (often highly sensitive and confidential) to ensure even urgent messages receive prompt attention.
• Monitor RDS e‑mail systems, handle requests and coordinate the receipt and distribution of test results in line with cancer waiting times standards.
• Ensure that data is updated in a timely manner on the Somerset Cancer Register to aid proactive tracking and data collection of patient pathways in line with the RDS minimum dataset.
• Type clinic letters and annotations using the Winscribe system and upload these onto the relevant clinical system.
• Book appointments and rooms for nurse‑led clinics and liaise with relevant staff to organise these.
• Collect and distribute completed paperwork to the relevant personnel in a timely manner as required.
• Receive, manage and prioritise telephone and personal enquiries, messages and information from patients, relatives, GPs, consultants and other medical staff and external organisations on behalf of the consultant and clinical team.
• Perform digital transcription of clinic letters and other correspondence.
• Maintain excellent communication skills and use initiative; work calmly under pressure and prioritise and manage workload with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• GCSE English at level 4 or above or equivalent.
• RSA/OCR II typewriting, Word and audio typewriting.
• Computer literate in the use of Microsoft Office packages.

Desirable Criteria

• ECDL certificate or equivalent.
• Admin/secretarial experience (minimum 6 months) or AMSPAR certificate.
• Ability to understand, absorb and comply with detailed procedures.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Experience booking and coordinating clinics.
• Cancer services experience.
• Proven communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team and be supportive of team members.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to keep information confidential.
• Proven ability to manage priorities under pressure.
• Proven ability to use own initiative and work without close supervision.
• Effective listening skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing needs of the service.
• Demonstrated ability to deal sympathetically and sensibly with people.
• Able to provide reasonable flexibility in terms of hours worked.
• Knowledge of Cancer Waiting Times standards.

Additional Information

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operating a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.