Hospital porter
Career outlook for hospital porter
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£22,000
£22,000
Experienced
£24,000
£24,000
Currently employed in Scotland
1,500
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would help patients in hospitals to get around the building. You’d deliver vital supplies and equipment to keep the hospital running smoothly.
You would help people who are in hospital by helping them to move around the building, for example, going from a ward to the x-ray department.
You would help a person into a wheelchair or on to hospital trolley. You’d take them to the right place at the right time and bring them back to their ward.
You would:
- Move patients to and from wards and departments
- Deal with incoming and outgoing mail
- Deliver clean linen to wards from the laundry
- Collect domestic and clinical waste, some of which may be hazardous
- Move furniture and medical equipment safely
- Transfer files, specimen samples and pharmacy boxes to different parts of the hospital
- Move patients who have died to the mortuary
Patients may be frightened or in pain; you’ll need to be friendly and helpful, and cope well when people are sick or distressed.
You’ll need to keep calm and act quickly in emergencies. You’d also have to cope with difficult situations, including the death.
Your work could take you anywhere on the hospital site. In some hospitals you could help with security, such as working on the reception desk and doing patrols.
You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the Portering staff page on the NHSScotland Careers website.
Working conditions
Hours
UK employment status
Full-time
64%
Part-time
36%
Self employed
0%
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- Positive attitude
- Resilience
- Building relationships
- Cooperating
- Supporting
- Verbal communication
- Empathising
- Social conscience
- Reliable
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Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this job but a good general education (SCQF level 4/5) may be required by some employers.
You will also need
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
For some jobs you will need a UK driving licence.
Helpful to have
Relevant work experience in a hospital or care setting; Skills for Work Health Sector (SCQF level 4/5) may provide this.
Work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Support Services (SVQ level 2). This could also be achieved once in a job.