MAIN DUTIES: To maintain excellent levels of confidentiality both inside and out of the Practice To be empathetic, pleasant and efficient in all communication with patients contacting the surgery either in person or by telephone. Open and close the surgery / reception area. Ensure the Reception area is tidy, and that clinical rooms are tidy and appropriately stocked. To undertake any training or development suitable to the post Must be flexible in your approach to provide cover during periods of holidays and sickness, often at short notice Telephone Duties: Make appropriate appointments with doctors, nurses or other members of the primary health care team. Organise requests for home visits Make ambulance bookings Take and pass on messages accurately and in a timely manner Appropriately pass on enquiries from patients, other surgeries, hospitals, North East and Cumbria ICB, NHS England, outside agencies etc. Desk Duties: Check-in patients attending for appointments and direct them to the appropriate doctor, nurse etc when required. Make appointments with doctors, nurses, other members of the primary health care team. Signposting patients to more appropriate heath measures should they not require an appointment with the practice Manage patient enquiries, giving non-medical advice where appropriate. Advise and register new patients, ensuring correct registration procedure is followed. Receive laboratory specimens from patients and complete all the necessary forms. Advise patients on the leaving and collection of medical and/or insurance forms and collect fees where required. Be aware of non-NHS services for which charges are made and inform patients requesting such services. Ensure that the necessary forms are completed for recording treatment provided i.e. temporary resident, emergency treatment, maternity medical services etc Administration: Processing test results and documents received electronically. Filing of letters, test results etc. in patients notes. Collection, inputting and extraction of data on the computer system in methodical and careful manner. Photocopying Preparation and posting of outgoing mail. Extraction and re-filing of patient notes if required. This job description is not comprehensive and the post holder will be expected to undertake any duties delegated by the Practice Manager, Deputy Practice Manager, Reception Manager or Partners.