Medical secretary/personal assistant
NHS medical secretaries make sure that our frontline staff are able to dedicate their time to patient care while our personal assistants support our senior leaders.
Working life
As a medical secretary or personal assistant, you'll usually work for a senior member of staff or group of staff. You'll support the work of a department by taking on administrative and secretarial tasks. For example:
- typing
- arranging meetings and taking minutes
- managing diaries
- arranging travel
- dealing with enquiries
- taking phone calls
- ordering stationery
- dealing with post and emails
- creating and updating spreadsheets and databases
You could be based in clinical areas such as:
- hospital departments of all types
- specialist clinics, including cancer centres or accident and emergency units
- GP surgeries and health centres
You may have contact with patients and their families as well as with healthcare staff and other admin staff.
Personal assistants may also be based in non-clinical areas such as NHS headquarters buildings where there is little or no contact with patients.
Medical secretaries/personal assistants may supervise a team of admin/secretarial staff such as clerks or typists.
Entry requirements, skills and interests
Medical secretaries/personal assistants have usually worked elsewhere in the NHS so they have experience of medical terminology and NHS ways of working.
There are no set entry requirements for a medical secretary/personal assistant. However, employers expect excellent keyboard skills. They may ask for qualifications in typing or word processing. Employers also expect a good standard of literacy, numeracy and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. You may be able to enter an apprenticeship through an administrative role and through further training and qualifications, progress to more senior roles as a medical secretary or personal assistant.
Personal characteristics
As a medical secretary or personal assistant, you'll need to:
- work accurately and methodically
- meet deadlines
- use medical terminology
- pay attention to detail
- work in a team but use their own initiative
- work with all types of people
- be helpful and reassuring if dealing with patients and their families
Skills required
- excellent keyboard skills
- IT skills
- good spelling and grammar
- organisational skills
Training and development
You will get the training you need to do the job. This includes an introduction to the department, how to use the IT and phone equipment and the procedures to follow. You may also have training in customer care.
You may be offered the chance to take qualifications such as NVQs or those from:
- the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists (AMSPAR)
- the British Society of Medical Secretaries and Administrators (BSMSA)
Some medical secretaries/personal assistants become members of AMSPAR or BSMSA. Both AMSPAR and BSMSA offer training, online forums and newsletters so staff can network with others doing the same type of work
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Medical secretaries and personal assistants in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You'd typically be on a salary at AfC band 3 or 4 and could progress, with further training and qualifications to posts at band 5. Terms and conditions will be different for administrative staff working outside of the NHS. Medical secretaries/personal assistants work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. In some jobs, this could involve early starts, evenings and weekends.
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With experience, you could become a manager, responsible for an admin or secretarial department. Some medical secretaries/personal assistants move into other areas such as finance, HR or health records. You may also have the opportunity to move into informatics, specialising in electronic data or into IT.
If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values.
Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs. Some of the current vacancies are below.
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Medical Secretary / Medical Personal Assisitant - Breast Services
Colchester and Ipswich, CO4 5JL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Personal Secretary
Highbury, NG6 9DR
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Secondment
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Personal Assistant
Prescot, L34 5DR
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Personal Assistant
Prescot, L35 5DR
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Personal Assistant
Brighton BN2 3EW, BN2 3EW
- Salary :
- £26530.00 to £29114.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary/Practice Management Assistant
Banbury, OX16 9DB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hightown Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Sleaford, NG34 7HD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sleaford Medical Group
-
Medical Secretary
Ipswich, IP9 2QS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Secretary
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £24625.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Shinfield, RG2 9EH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Norwich, NR50RS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Coastal Partnership
-
Medical Secretary
Plymouth, PL46LF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Livewell Southwest
-
Medical Secretary
Exeter, EX2 5AF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Leigh on Sea, SS9 3NG
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Secretary
Bodelwyddan, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Leeds, LS14 6DX
- Salary :
- £12.50 to £15.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dr S Laybourn and Partners
-
Medical Secretary
Yeovil, BA21 4AT
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Durham, DH1 5TW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AR
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dr J Henderson & Partners
-
Medical Secretary
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Northallerton, DL7 8AW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mayford House Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Gateshead, NE11 0QD
- Salary :
- £12.75
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Community Based Care Workforce Solutions LTD
-
Medical Secretary
Blackburn, BB1 3BL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Darlington, DL3 6HX
- Salary :
- £24625.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Birmingham, B44 9ER
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Oaks Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Abbots Langley, WD5 0HT
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Torquay, TQ2 7AA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Derby, DE23 6QQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Derby Family Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Birmingham, B43 6EE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Scott Arms Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Coventry, CV1 3HQ
- Salary :
- £24938.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Broomfield Park Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Southport, PR8 6PN
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Swindon, SN3 6BB
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8LN
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Preston, PR3 2JH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
West Bromwich, B71 4NH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dr Walji & Colleagues
-
Medical Secretary (XN03)
Leeds, LS9 7TF
- Salary :
- £24071.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Support Medical Secretary
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary/Administrator
Halesowen, B63 4WD
- Salary :
- £12.25 to £13.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Halesowen Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary (XN03)
Leeds, LS1 3EX
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Medical Secretary - Respiratory
Doncaster, DN2 5LT
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
-
Oncology Medical Secretary
Rhyl, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary (XN03)
Leeds, LS9 7TF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Support Medical Secretary
Sheffield, S10 2JF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Medical Secretary
Oswestry, SY10 7AG
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary- Oncology
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary / Administrator
Accrington, BB5 3JB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Oswald Medical Centre
-
Haematology Medical Secretary
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary, Cardiothoracic
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Support Medical Secretary
Sheffield, S5 7AU
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Medical Secretary
Oswestry, SY10 7AG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Cardiology Medical Secretary
Guildford, GU2 7XX
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Medical Secretary
Sheffield, S10 2JF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary - DOPMH
Bodmin, PL31 2QT
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Cardiology Medical Secretary
Woolwich, London, SE18 4QH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
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