Medical secretary

You would make sure a doctor’s office runs smoothly so patients get the best service possible.

You would make appointments, deal with patients’ queries and work closely with health professionals.

You could work for a:

• Consultant in a hospital

• Director or chief executive of an NHS trust

• GP surgery

• Private practice

• University or research department

• Pharmaceutical company

You would:

• Handle enquiries from patients

• Organise a consultant's or director’s diary

• Make travel arrangements

• Manage a consultant's waiting list

• Update patient records

• Send samples for medical testing

• Make sure that test results are filed with the right patient notes

• Type patient letters and clinical reports

• Manage a filing system

• Oversee an office budget.

You might lead a team of secretaries. You would manage their workload and make sure they had all the equipment they needed to do their job.

You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the Medical Secretary/personal assistant page of the NHS Careers website. 

• Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists

• Institute of Administrative Management

• British Society of Medical Secretaries and Administrators