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
-
Medical Personal Assistant - Oncology
Colchester, CO4 5JL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Personal Secretary
Mansfield, NG18 4GW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Assistant Medical Secretary
King's Lynn, PE30 4ET
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT
-
Personal Assistant
Bodmin, PL31 2QT
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Personal Assistant
Lincoln, LN1 1FS
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary/Practice Management Assistant
Banbury, OX16 9DB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hightown Surgery
-
Personal Assistant - Administrative
Lowestoft, NR32 1JE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- High Street Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Sleaford, NG34 7HD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sleaford Medical Group
-
Medical Secretary
Huddersfield, HD1 4TS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Paddock and Longwood Family Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9DT
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Norwich, NR50RS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Coastal Partnership
-
Medical Secretary
Cardiff, CF14 2TL
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Velindre University NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £24625.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Milton Keynes, MK113LL
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Watling Street Network PCN
-
Medical Secretary
Crowborough, TN6 1DL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Saxonbury House Medical Group
-
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
Telford, TF3 4LY
- Salary :
- £12.32
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Teldoc
-
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
Northallerton, DL7 8AW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mayford House Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
High Peak, SK22 4BP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sett Valley Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Cardiff, CF11 9LJ
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Public Health Wales
-
Medical Secretary
Bradford, BD7 3JX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Ridge Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
London, SW12 8TT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Thurleigh Road Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Doncaster, DN1 2DS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Regent Square Group Practice
-
Medical Secretary
North Shields, NE29 8NH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Derby, DE23 6QQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Derby Family Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Leeds, LS14 5BD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Windmill Health Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5ES
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Powys Teaching Health Board
-
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
Norwich, NR1 4NU
- Salary :
- £13.46
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lionwood Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Personal Assistant - Administrative
Lowestoft, NR32 1JE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- High Street Surgery
-
Medical Secretary/PA
Blackburn, BB2 3HH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
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 (XN03)
Leeds, LS1 3EX
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Medical Secretary/Administrator
Halesowen, B63 4WD
- Salary :
- £12.25 to £13.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Halesowen Medical Practice
-
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
-
Medical Secretary / Administrator
LANCASHIRE, BB11 3BT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Yorkshire Street Medical Centre
-
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
-
Support Medical Secretary
Sheffield, S10 2JF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Haematology Medical Secretary
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset County 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 - Dermatology
Bath, BA1 3NG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary / Administrator
Accrington, BB5 3JB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Oswald Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary, Cardiothoracic
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
REI Medical Secretary
Plymouth, PL6 5ZF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary - Neurology
Redhill, RH1 5RH
- Salary :
- £21988.00 to £24129.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS 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
-
PA/Medical Secretary
Manchester, M20 4BX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Christie NHS FT
-
Support Medical Secretary
Stafford, ST16 3SA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary - Colorectal
Salisbury, SP2 8BJ
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
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