Waiting List Coordinator

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

NHS pension

Annual leave

Career development

Blue Light Card & NHS perks

Job summary

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an organised admissions professional to support a patient-centred admissions service, coordinating bookings with clinical teams and ensuring compliance with local and national standards. The role focuses on accurate theatre and waiting list management, ensuring smooth patient flow for operations and procedures.

You will communicate with patients and clinicians, follow the Clinical Review process when needed, and maintain clear information exchange to

Responsibilities

• Coordinate admissions for patients and ensure waiting lists and theatre lists are managed effectively.
• Follow waiting list policies and RTT rules to support safe, timely patient care.
• Communicate clearly with patients, carers, and clinical teams to arrange bookings and inform decisions.
• Negotiate with patients on admission dates to minimize delays and cancellations where possible.

Job description

Are you an organised, compassionate professional committed to supporting patients' access to timely, high quality care? In this role, you will help deliver a smooth, patient centred admissions service, ensuring care is coordinated efficiently and in line with local and national standards. Working closely with colleagues and the Management Team, you will support good booking practice and provide reliable assistance to patients and clinical teams. You will follow admissions processes accurately and ensure waiting lists and theatre lists are managed effectively to support safe and timely patient care., Schedule patients into appropriate theatre lists, ensuring the surgeons requirements are followed, hospital systems are checked for essential booking information, there is a suitable anaesthetist, all equipment will be present and available, any special bed requests are ordered, and the order of the theatre list is suitable for the surgeon, along with managing the patients' social needs and availability. Follow and implement waiting list policies, paying particular attention to the 18 week RTT national rules, clock rules for diagnostic tests and the Trust's Access Policy. Negotiate with patients when they wish to cancel admission dates so that they understand that any further cancellation or delay may result in their being removed from the waiting list following the Clinical Review process. Ensure information conveyed to the patient and Clinical Reviewer is clear and accurate so that a fair and appropriate decision can be made on the patient's future care. Communicate effectively and in a timely fashion with patients/parents/carers as the need arises. Use reassurance and negotiation skills with tact on a daily basis over the telephone and face to face: patients are often very anxious at the prospect of admission to hospital for operations and procedures, so a calm and empathic approach is essential. Overcoming barriers to understanding, either because there is a language difficulty or because the patient simply does not comprehend the nature and purpose of their admission.

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer, Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London. The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future. Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
• Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.