Receptionist

Shirley Medical Centre; London Borough of Croydon; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

Shirley Medical Centre in London is seeking a GP Receptionist to be the first point of contact for patients, carers and visitors, providing a professional, confidential front-desk service and supporting the clinical team.

You will handle appointments, telephone and face-to-face enquiries, process prescriptions, maintain patient records in EMIS Web, and work calmly in a busy primary care environment, contributing to high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide a professional and welcoming reception service to patients, carers, and visitors.
• Answer telephone calls promptly, deal with enquiries, and signpost patients appropriately.
• Book, cancel, and manage appointments using clinical systems (e.g. EMIS).
• Process repeat prescription requests in line with practice procedures.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, ensuring confidentiality at all times.
• Scan, file, and process incoming/outgoing correspondence and clinical documents.
• Support clinicians with administrative tasks, including referrals and follow-ups.
• Deal with patient related admin duties such as emails, registrations and processing online consultations.
• Deal with patient queries in a calm and professional manner, including difficult or distressed individuals.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, NHS policies, and practice procedures.
• Work effectively as part of a team in a busy, fast-paced primary care environment

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Calm under pressure

Job description

The GP Receptionist is a key front-line role within an NHS GP practice, acting as the first point of contact for patients, carers, and visitors. The role is essential in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the practice on a daily basis. You will provide a professional, caring, and confidential reception and administrative service, supporting both patients and the clinical team. This includes managing appointments, handling telephone and face-to-face enquiries, processing prescriptions, and maintaining accurate patient records using clinical systems such as EMIS Web. Working in a busy primary care environment, the role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm and organised under pressure. You will play an important part in ensuring patients are directed to the right services and receive timely, appropriate care. Overall, the GP Receptionist role is vital in supporting high-quality patient care and contributing to the effective running of the NHS GP practice.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a professional and welcoming reception service to patients, carers, and visitors
• Answer telephone calls promptly, deal with enquiries, and signpost patients appropriately
• Book, cancel, and manage appointments using clinical systems (e.g. EMIS)
• Process repeat prescription requests in line with practice procedures
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, ensuring confidentiality at all times
• Scan, file, and process incoming/outgoing correspondence and clinical documents
• Support clinicians with administrative tasks, including referrals and follow-ups
• Deal with patient related admin duties such as emails, registrations and processing online consultations.
• Deal with patient queries in a calm and professional manner, including difficult or distressed individuals
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, NHS policies, and practice procedures
• Work effectively as part of a team in a busy, fast-paced primary care environment

Job responsibilities

Patient Services

• Act as the first point of contact for patients in person and by telephone
• Deal with patient enquiries in a polite, professional, and sensitive manner
• Book, cancel, and amend appointments accurately and efficiently
• Signpost patients to appropriate clinicians or services
• Assist with recall of patients needing annual or monitoring reviews

Administration Duties

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records using clinical systems
• Process repeat prescription requests following practice protocols
• Scan, file, and manage incoming and outgoing correspondence
• Support administrative tasks including referrals and clinical document processing

Team Support

• Processing patient registrations

Confidentiality & Compliance

• Maintain strict confidentiality in line with GDPR and NHS policies
• Follow all practice procedures, protocols, and safeguarding requirements
• Ensure a professional and safe reception environment at all times

General Responsibilities

• Manage a busy workload in a fast-paced environment
• Remain calm and professional when dealing with difficult or distressed patients
• Work effectively as part of a team and support colleagues when required
• Participate in training and continuous development relevant to the role