Porter

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in Southampton is seeking Porters to join their team. Responsible for the safe movement of patients and medical items, the role includes attending to the Helipad and assisting clinical teams. The ideal candidate will be confident, friendly, and dedicated to maintaining patient dignity and comfort. Full-time shift-based roles available, requiring good literacy and numeracy skills. Join a diverse healthcare team committed to providing excellent patient care.

Qualifications

• Health and physical abilities sufficient for the post with reasonable adjustments as necessary.
• Previous experience of dealing with the public or other agencies.

Responsibilities

• Be an integral member of the Portering team and undertake portering duties.
• Attend the Helipad to help Major trauma team with patient transfers.
• Remove deceased patients from wards to the mortuary.

Skills

Confident and friendly

Helpful and courteous manner

Education

Good standard of literacy and numeracy

Good standard of computer skills

Tools

NVQ relating to Customer Care/Public Services

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Main duties of the job

The Portering Department at UHS are looking for Porters to join our growing team.

Location

Southampton General Hospital

Contract

Full-time, shift-based (Days, Nights, Early and Twilight shifts across 7 days)

About The Role

Our Portering team plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the hospital every day of the week. As a Hospital Porter, you’ll be responsible for the safe and timely movement of patients, equipment, and essential medical items across the Trust, helping to keep our hospital operating seamlessly.

You’ll support clinical teams by transferring patients between wards, departments, and specialist areas such as X-ray or theatres, always ensuring their comfort, dignity, and safety. You’ll also assist with transporting laboratory specimens, blood products, medical equipment, and other vital supplies, as well as attending the helipad to support the Major Trauma team in transferring patients to the Emergency Department or other areas of the hospital.

This is a highly rewarding role where no two days are the same, and you’ll be a key part of the wider hospital team making a real difference to patient care.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Key Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be an integral member of the Portering team and undertake portering duties within the Trust.
• To attend the Helipad to help Major trauma team retrieve and transfer patients to the Emergency Department or other location within the Trust.
• Removal of deceased patients from wards and departments to the mortuary or holding room, passing over the patients’ case notes as required.
• Transport laboratory specimens, blood products between hospital wards and departments.

What experience/skills are needed?

• We are looking for Confident and friendly individuals with a real appetite to provide a professional service to patients during their transfers. A helpful and courteous manner is required at all times when dealing with patients, visitors and other staff.
• Shifts will consist of Days, Nights, Early and Twilight shifts across 7 days of the week.
• Based primarily at the Southampton General Hospital you will be required to transport Patients, specimens/blood and other items throughout the site in a reliable, friendly and caring manner and to respond at the Helipad as required.

Person specification

Physical Requirements of the Post

• Health and physical abilities sufficient for the post (if necessary with reasonable adjustments with respect to the Equality Act/Disability Discrimination Act)

Qualifications/Training Required

• Good standard of literacy and numeracy
• A good standard of computer skills

Desirable criteria

• NVQ relating to Customer Care/Public Services

Previous or Relevant Experience Necessary

• Previous experience of dealing with the public/other agencies

Special Requirements of the Post

• Shift work ranging over a 24 hour 7 day period i.e. 0600 to 1400, 1400 to 2200 and 2200 to 0600. Ability to be flexible

Trust Values

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together