Medical Secretary - Histopathology

NHS; Sefton, Knowsley; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization in England seeks a Medical Secretary to provide comprehensive support to Consultant Pathologists. Key tasks include typing reports, managing databases, and performing general office duties. Candidates should have at least 2 years of experience, RSA typing qualifications, and excellent IT skills. This role offers a salary range of £27,485 to £30,162 per annum.

Qualifications

• 2 years' experience as medical secretary.
• Excellent IT skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
• Previous experience within the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Typing histology and non-gynaecological cytology reports.
• Typing hospital/Coroners post mortem reports.
• Maintain a database of post mortem reports.
• Support consultants/Senior Technical staff in non-clinical activities.
• General office duties including dealing with incoming/outgoing mail.

Skills

Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision

Ability to manage difficult/sensitive situations

Ability to use own initiative and manage/prioritise own workload

Ability to accurately maintain filing/documentation system

Ability to work as part of a team

Knowledge of Hospital IT systems

Education

RSA/OCRIII typing or equivalent

Knowledge of medical terminology

AMSPAR or equivalent experience

Shorthand skills/speed writing

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Medical Secretary - Histopathology

The closing date is 11 November 2025

1 x 30 hours based at Southport Hospital

To provide a comprehensive secretarial service to the Consultant Pathologists, their junior medical staff and the Departmental Manager in the Cellular Pathology Department assisting with the organisation of their workloads. Manage their own workload and co‑ordinate activities with other medical secretaries to ensure that an efficient service is provided. Carry out duties in such a way as to make a direct and positive contribution to the organisation of the work. It is essential that the candidate exercises initiative commensurate with the role and it is vital that confidentiality is maintained at all times.

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change

Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties of the job

Typing of histology and non‑gynaecological cytology reports into the Telepath system ensuring all patient/requester/clinical details are correct. Also ensuring correlation between the handwritten/dictated report and the diagnosis written on the request card and pointing out any discrepancies to the medical staff.

Typing hospital/Coroners post mortem reports.

Distribution of post mortem reports once signed out by pathologist in accordance with H.M. Coroner guidelines to previously agreed recipients.

Maintain a database of all post mortem reports once typed.

Support consultants/Senior Technical staff in non‑clinical activities/teaching by preparing presentation documents/production of literature/events/papers, using relevant software package.

Operate effective filing and tracking system of Casualty sheets for deceased patients following post mortem.

Maintain case folder location on Careflow obtain case sheets when necessary by telephone or in person.

Maintain calendar ensuring appropriate personnel are informed of consultant/medical staff annual/professional leave.

General office duties including dealing with incoming and outgoing mail, e‑mail, smart printer. Participate in housekeeping of the office environment.

Arrange Directorate, Departmental and Trust wide meetings, circulate agenda/supporting papers as appropriate and take and type up minutes.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Job responsibilities

See attached documents in document section.

JD and PS both attached

See attached documents in document section.

JD and PS both attached

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RSA/OCRIII typing or equivalent
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• AMSPAR or equivalent experience
• Shorthand skills/speed writing

Experience

• 2 years' experience as medical secretary
• Excellent IT skills with knowledge of experience of Microsoft office products
• Previous experience within the NHS

Skills

• Self‑motivated and able to work with limited supervision
• Ability to manage difficult/sensitive situations
• Able to use own initiative and manage/prioritise own workload
• Ability to accurately maintain computerised and manual filing/documentation system
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Knowledge of Hospital IT systems

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.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum, pro rata