MAIN PURPOSE OF POST To provide a point of contact for patients. To facilitate effective communication between patients and the Primary Health Care Team and to promote a positive image of the practice to its patients and service users. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Reception duties Ensure efficiency of appointment system and monitor flow of patients into consulting and treatment rooms Ensure patients without appointments, needing urgent treatment are dealt with sensitively whilst minimizing disruption to the surgery. Explain Practice arrangements and formal requirements to patients requiring medical services. Advise patients of relevant charges for private services, accept payment and issue receipts Respond to queries and requests for assistance from patients and visitors Record home visit requests ensuring all relevant information is recorded. Refer to the duty doctor when necessary. Receive and make calls on behalf of the practice. Divert and transfer calls and take messages in line with practice procedures Action requests for ambulance transportation. Scanning and indexing of documents Monitoring and auctioning Practice email account Action tasks sent to reception Monitor Footfall and allocate queries as per protocol Appointments Ensure familiarity with computerized appointments to include incidental and regular variations. Book appointments and recalls, ensuring sufficient information has been recorded. Repeat prescriptions Action repeat prescription requests in line with agreed practice protocols and within agreed quality standards. (Controlled drugs are exempt) Provide point of contact for queries concerning repeat prescriptions, ensure follow up action is taken for outstanding queries Check prescription collection regularly. Bring uncollected prescriptions to the attention of the appropriate doctor. Medical records Provide medical records to doctors when requested. Retrieve and file records accurately and in a timely manner File correspondence, reports and results in accordance with practice procedures Ensure records are kept in good repair and information is amended as appropriate on manual and computer records Consulting rooms Prepare consulting rooms in readiness for each surgery Check consulting rooms at the end of each session, ensuring all correspondence/filing is dealt with and rooms are left tidy and secure. Opening/closing procedures Ready premises for patients and doctors Secure premises at closure of surgery to include activation of alarm Ready reception for following surgery KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Professional To maintain confidentiality. To maintain personal development by attending courses/study days as identified by the Partners. Participate in the education and training of staff and students To contribute to the development of the practice by participating in Practice meetings as required. To participate in the development of protocols and guidelines and assist in the formulation of Practice philosophy and policy To identify areas of possible improvement in service delivery to the Practice Manager. To undertake any other duties which are commensurate with the level and responsibilities of this post. To actively and continuously review all activities and suggest areas for improvement.