Oncology Receptionist | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Receptionist to manage the reception area. The role involves handling patient bookings, answering calls, and providing administrative support. Candidates should have strong communication skills and be able to maintain professionalism during challenging interactions. This position plays a key role in ensuring a welcoming environment for patients and their families. The successful applicant will join a dedicated team at a prominent NHS Trust committed to staff development and patient care.

Benefits

Access to training and development programs

Inclusive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing role.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Welcome and assist patients and visitors at reception.
• Manage patient appointments and bookings.
• Maintain accurate patient records and data entry.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Empathy

Ability to stay calm under pressure

Tools

PiMS (Patient Information Management System)

Job description

Job Overview

The Receptionist is responsible for the reception area within the Unit. They will work as part of a team providing front-line administrative and clerical services to the Department. This role primarily involves booking patients in and out using the hospital PiMS system, as well as undertaking other duties including answering telephone calls from internal and external callers, sending appointment notifications to patients, and booking patient transport.

Patient/Public Contact

• Welcome patients, relatives and visitors to the department, providing appropriate advice, guidance, information, and assistance.
• Deal with telephone enquiries professionally, ensuring accuracy and compliance with confidentiality policies.
• Use effective communication skills to overcome barriers such as language differences or disability.
• Remain calm, composed and professional when dealing with aggressive or challenging behaviour.
• Demonstrate empathy when supporting members of the public who may be emotionally distressed or have received sensitive or distressing news.
• Inform nursing staff promptly if any patient or visitor becomes unwell while in the Unit.
• Receive information from departmental managers and relay relevant updates to patients and visitors as appropriate.
• Treat all individuals with dignity and respect, in a non-judgemental manner, regardless of race, creed, gender, age, religion, personal appearance, lifestyle or behaviour.
• Maintain concentration while working in a busy, potentially noisy public area with frequent interruptions and competing demands.
• Keep patients informed when clinics are running late, providing updates at least every 30 minutes.

Outpatient Clinics

• Make and confirm follow-up appointments. Arrange transport when needed. Maintain accurate clinic data on Flow Manager/PiMS and ensure clinics are cashed up within one working day.

Use of PiMS (Patient Information Management System)

• Update patient records accurately, ensuring comprehensive data entry including contact details such as mobile telephone numbers where available.
• Use communication skills to obtain relevant and accurate patient information from patients and relatives, including demographic data such as ethnic origin.
• Book follow-up appointments for patients following treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
• Notify the Bookings Team of patients seen on the wards, ensuring these are recorded correctly as new patient episodes.
• Report faults with PiMS and other IT systems to the IM&T Department.
• Report any other equipment faults to the appropriate department or individual.

Training

• Provide training and support to new and temporary reception staff as required, ensuring continuity and consistency of service delivery.

Other Duties

• Undertake photocopying as required.
• Manage daily internal and external post, distributing items as appropriate.
• Ensure the reception and clinic areas are well maintained at all times, liaising with Domestic and Estates departments when necessary.
• Receive and redirect telephone calls to the appropriate person or department.
• Assist in covering absences of other reception staff as required, which may involve working additional hours.
• Liaise with consultants, unit managers, and medical secretaries regarding clinic arrangements when necessary.
• Manage a varied and demanding workload, prioritising tasks effectively within available resources.
• Ensure prior treatment activity requirements are met, including booking blood tests and clinical reviews.

About the Trust

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.

Vacancies

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received.

Probation

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post.

Travel

Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Closing Date

This advert closes on Sunday 4 Jan 2026