Specimen Receptionist/Administrator

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.

The core duties for this position are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list. Please refer to the job description for further details of job responsibilities.

·       To support the Office and Specimen Reception to include Cancer Genetics, in the daily activities that are distributed on a rota.

• To organise own work tasks/activities, prioritising urgent and emergency workload.
• Working as part of Genetics Specimen Reception; receiving and processing patient samples according to referral information.
• To support the Export co-ordinators/all office/spec rec managers in the preparation and writing of exports and submission of data on a spreadsheet.
• To perform accurate data entry of sensitive patient information onto the laboratory computer system including for NGIS, requiring frequent, long periods of concentration
• Answer telephone and other enquires from health professionals for results and other specimen related queries
• Manage departmental mail boxes.
• Take delivery of supplies and samples for the department.
• Collect and distribute the post for the department.
• Update the list of Referring Doctors on the in-house database.
• Participation of merging patient data on the in-house database.
• Collecting and collating workload statistics safely and in a way that allows for retrieval within appropriate timescales.
• Escalating to Specimen Reception/Office managers any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure if unable to resolve.
• To ensure that health and safety standards are maintained at all times.
• To ensure all work carried out meets the legislative guidelines.
• Participate and contribute to the Quality Management System (QMS) in line with the SDM and Quality Officer’s objectives and guidance.
• To ensure that all errors are appropriately logged on Q-pulse and to assist with investigations and actions as required. 
• Strict adherence to the Laboratory’s Standard Operating Procedures and maintaining up to date versions of Operating Procedures for the duties assigned.
• Liaise with all services external to Genetics such as portering, couriers and build on professional relationships.
• Responsible for ensuring an excellent service is delivered to its customers.
• To check and ensure all equipment and environments are kept clean and in a safe working condition according to Trust policies, procedures and legislative guidelines.
• To provide and promote a high level of customer service to patients, visitors and Trust colleagues via face to face contact, telephone and email.
• To deal with any patient, visitor or Trust colleague complaints or queries working with the Specimen Reception/Office managers.
• To act at all times, in a way that will enhance team working within the department.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!