Patient Pathway Assistant

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

The Bristol Breast Care Centre within Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Patient Pathway Assistant to support administrative tasks across inpatient and outpatient activity. You will handle high-volume calls, email queries, book appointments and process clinical letters, working closely with the Cancer Nurse Specialist team.

You should be calm, organised and able to multitask in a busy environment and contribute to a patient-centered service aligned with 18 weeks Referral To Treatment

Qualifications

• GCSE C or above in Maths and English
• Good keyboard and computer skills
• Experience working in a busy team environment
• Ability to work under pressure
• Experience following protocols and procedures
• Experience in NHS or similar organisation (desirable)
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and data protection principles
• Understanding of patient confidentiality

Responsibilities

• Take high-volume calls and respond to email queries
• Book various appointment types and process clinical letters
• Assist Cancer Nurse Specialist team with administration
• Provide reception cover and prep clinics as needed
• Work with consultant teams and Patient Pathway Coordinators
• Support across inpatient and outpatient activity and liaise with GPs and patients
• Adhere to 18 weeks Referral To Treatment guidelines

Skills

Multitasking

Patient communication

Team liaison

Education

GCSE Maths and English

Good keyboard skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Trac system

Job description

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

Two opportunities available:

1x substantive role, 30 hours per week

1x secondment / fixed term role, 22.5 hours per week for 12 months.

A fantastic opportunity has recently arisen within the Bristol Breast Care Centre as we are advertising for a Patient Pathway Assistant to join our very busy, fast paced specialty. This team are focused on helping manage the administrative processes for patients and provide the best experience possible.

The ideal candidate will need to be able to work in a calm, logical, organised and methodical way in a busy environment. This is a high-pressured department, so the ability to multitask will be essential.

The role will be to support all administration aspects of the patient pathway in line with cancer pathways and 18 weeks Referral To Treatment guidelines, therefore 18 weeks and cancer pathways knowledge would be extremely beneficial.

This role also involves working closely with the consultant team and Patient Pathway Coordinators, deputising for them as required. This role also involves working closely with the reception team, supporting with reception cover and prepping clinics as needed.

Main duties of the job

The Patient Pathway Assistant will be responsible for supporting the clinical teams in managing all administrative tasks across inpatient and outpatient activity in Breast Care. This will include taking high volume calls, processing and responding to email queries, booking many different types of appointments and processing clinical letters. You will also be assisting the Cancer Nurse Specialist team with their admin tasks. This, as well as any other tasks deemed necessary in line with banding.

To play a central role within these services and to work in close liaison with colleagues, staff in other departments, GPs, patients and the general public. To work well as part of a team whilst being able to use their own initiative.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to GCSE C standard or above (Maths and English)
• Good keyboard and computer skills

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary or busy team environmenti>
• Experience of working under pressure
• Experience of working to protocols and procedures

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in the NHS or similar organisation

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Full working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel
• Knowledge of the Trusts Policies and Procedures
• Understanding of patient confidentiality and data protection

Desirable criteria

• Working knowledge of relevant hospital systems
• Understanding of medical terminology

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances

Essential criteria

• Professional and empathetic manner when communicating with patients
• Good attention to detail
• Ability to complete tasks within set deadlines
• Ability to exercise judgement whilst problem solving and seeking advice appropriately

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.