General Porter

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Luton is seeking an adaptable General Porter to assist with various tasks across the hospital. Responsibilities include transporting patients, managing waste, and supporting overall hospital operations, which entails a good level of physical fitness. Applicants are expected to have strong communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively. The role offers valuable experience within a supportive environment focused on patient care and staff wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience working with the public.
• Ability to undertake training and learn new skills.
• Ability to use IT systems.
• Understanding of in-house IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients round the hospital.
• Collection and disposal of refuse.
• Deliver and collect blood supplies and products.
• Respond to a bleep as required.
• Collect and deliver items from and to the Pharmacy.

Skills

Good communication

Interpersonal skills

Flexibility

Ability to undertake manual tasks

Good level of physical fitness

Education

Good general standard of education

Job description

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

General Porter

The closing date is 24 December 2025

We are actively seeking to recruit both Porters and Bank Porters to join our Portering Department.

You will have the opportunity to work in all areas of the service; therefore flexibility is an essential aspect of the role.

Applicants must have good communication and interpersonal skills, be able to undertake manual tasks & have the ability to prioritize their work. They must be able to work on their own, as well as part of a team, and be willing and able to work early's, lates, weekends, nights and public holidays.

Some aspects of these jobs are physically demanding and a good level of physical fitness is desirable, applicants will be expected to work outside in all weather conditions and help keep the hospital safe during the winter months.

Hours vary depending on the needs of the service.

This post will require you to be trained in all aspects of the Portering Department.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients round the hospital
• Undertake general mortuary duties in accordance with the agreed procedures
• Collection and disposal of refuse
• Collect and deliver blood supplies & blood products.
• Delivery & collection of specimens & results to & from the wards & laboratories
• To carry and respond to a bleep
• Collect and deliver items from and to the Pharmacy
• Collection & delivery of Hospital sterilise services items & equipment.
• Keep simple records, where necessary
• Collection and delivery & changing of medical gas cylinders.
• Collection and delivery of food, when required
• Collection and delivery of equipment, beds, bedding equipment, furniture documents and mail (both Royal Mail and internal) around the hospital
• To carry out any other work as requested by the Contract Support Manager or his representative
• To make sure the trusts waste is segregated correctly
• To collect and move Clinical, Household/General and all other waste types from in and around the Hospital site to waste compounds
• To keep waste rooms free of waste and clear of all clutter. Keep waste rooms floors clean and mopped
• Collection and delivery of equipment, beds, bedding equipment, furniture around the hospital
• To issue/deliver shredding sacks and collect full shredding sacks to & from wards/departments and place in store as required.

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.

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.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience working with the public
• Good interpersonal skills

Qualifications

• Good general standard of education
• Ability to undertake training and learn new skills

IT

• Ability to use IT systems
• Understanding of in house IT systems

Communication

• Ability to communicate effectively with staff patients, visitors and members of the public
• Good interpersonal skills

Other

• Good level of general physical fitness.
• Ability to undertake heavy manual tasks
• Ability to be flexible around service needs.

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust