Job summary

A position exists for a Clerical Officer to work in the Nuclear Medicine department at the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The Christie is situated in south Manchester and is an international leader in cancer research and development. It is the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe.

You would form part of a multi-disciplinary team which provides specialist diagnostic and therapeutic services including PET-CT to over 15,000 patients annually. Responsibilities include receiving patients, patient scheduling, organising patient appointments and report distribution. The working pattern may include extended working days and weekends.

Applicants should have a good general education to A-level standard and be computer literate. Strong interpersonal and organisational skills are essential. Previous experience working within the NHS and / or in a clerical role would be desirable.

Main duties of the job

• Greet and book-in patients and visitors attending the department. Liaise with others, including wards and departments, to ensure that patients' needs are met throughout their stay in the department.
• Take and deal with telephone requests and respond to incoming emails promptly.
• Schedule appointments with regard to existing bookings and staffing levels requiring an awareness of the varying complexities of patients' procedures, equipment and staff needed to undertake the test or treatment.
• Liaise with trusts, Nuclear Medicine departments and PET-CT scanning centres across the region.
• Management of various patient administration systems and databases.
• Transfer of images across the region via image Exchange and PACS portals.
• Record keeping and auditing.
• Maintain stock of stationery including all forms and patient information leaflets.
• Assist in the implementation of any changes to booking procedures due to the modernisation agenda.
• Ensure all trial data is captured and recorded for monitoring purposes.

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Reception

Greets and books-in patients and visitors attending the department. Liaises with others, including wards and departments, to ensure that patients needs are met throughout their stay in the department.

Takes and deals with telephone requests for verbal reports of patient study results.

Receives specimens for analysis, deliveries etc. arriving in the department and directs them to the correct personnel.

Ensures that the reception area is tidy at all times.

2. Administration

Takes requests and makes appointments for patient studies using a computerised booking system and sends out associated information to the patient.

Schedules appointments with regard to existing bookings and staffing levels. This requires an awareness of the different complexities of patients procedures and the equipment and staff needed to undertake the test or treatment.

Co-ordinates the making of appointments for the clinical PET service in accordance with the Operational Policy. This includes :

Dealing with incoming requests promptly.

Contacting the Nuclear Medicine Departments and PET-CT scanning centres at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wigan Albert Edward Infirmary to transfer requests as appropriate.

Confirming all patients will be attending their appointment.

Contacting patients by phone to determine their eligibility for attendance and give appropriate appointment.

Updating the PET-CT website.

Updating the Image Exchange and PACS portals.

Keeps records of all requests for the purpose of audit.

Produces day logs for patients attending for studies, obtaining patient notes from records if necessary.

Books interpreters as required.

Maintains stocks of stationery, including all forms and patient information leaflets.

Maintains the filing system for the Nuclear Medicine Department. This includes ensuring that records are kept and / or destroyed in accordance with NHS and Trust policies and guidelines.

Assists in the implementation of any changes to booking procedures due to the modernisation agenda.

3. Out-patient clinics

Ensures the care pathway for thyroid clinic patients and subsequent management of tests / treatment runs smoothly.

4. Regulatory

Ensures that the monthly legal limit for in-patient radioiodine treatments is not exceeded (RSA 1993).

Contacts other staff (medical / secretarial / nursing) to ensure that incorrectly completed request cards for patients studies are amended to comply with IRMER (2000).

5. Monitors clinical trials activity

Ensures all trial data is captured and recorded for monitoring purposes.

Glossary

RSA Radioactive Substances Act 1993

ARSAC Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee

IRMER Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations, 2000

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Experience

Essential

Desirable

Skills

Essential

Desirable

Knowledge

Desirable

VALUES

Essential

OTHER

Essential