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Original poster

what's it like working in the NHS in admin?

28 replies

downlo · 26/03/2019 11:54

I've always worked in admin but mainly in the voluntary sector and working in a hospital/ clinical setting really interests me. However, I read a lot on here how working for the NHS is so stressful etc and wondered what its like for admin staff.

Also what's the best way to get in? There's a few band 2 posts working on wards. Is career progression good? What can I do from there?

TIA

OP posts:
canonlyhopexo · 26/03/2019 12:00

I work in an admin job in the NHS. I really enjoy it. I started as a temp 4 years ago as I'd never done office work before and then got kept on. It can be stressful but I find the work enjoyable and as employers are very good in terms of your lifestyle eg kids etc. I've been promoted once since being there and would have gone for another promotion but was planning a family and am now 20 weeks pregnant so was the right choice for me at the time.

Original poster
downlo · 26/03/2019 12:04

canonlyhopexo thanks for your reply. can I ask what your role is? I don't really want to be front line facing and was wondering what behind the scenes type of roles there are.

OP posts:
WTFIsAGleepglorp · 26/03/2019 12:06

Admin assistant, telephonist, health records clerk...

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
Blastandtroph · 26/03/2019 12:09

Plenty of behind the scenes roles. Health records might be worth considering. Good luck.

MicrocellularOrganism · 26/03/2019 12:22

I am a medical secretary. I did the AMSPAR Diploma when my children were little and went into the local hospital from there. Its a very busy, demanding job but I really enjoy it.

Original poster
downlo · 26/03/2019 12:56

I've just been looking at some NHS jobs etc online and have come across clinical coding which sounds really interesting. I love biology ( have an a level in it) but not sure how to get into this. Does anyone know?

OP posts:
canonlyhopexo · 26/03/2019 19:10

@downlo it's sort of like health records. Job title is data administrative assistant

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/03/2019 19:20

I love my health records job. I returned to work after years as a SAHM and loving being back in an office. In all honesty a few of my young colleagues seem to be bored and take the piss a bit with their work ethic, sick leave, etc so it’s probably not for everyone. Me - I can see me there for 10 years, it’s more like a hobby than working, and I get paid for it!, absolutely no pressure. I really do enjoy it.

Career progression within the hospital is really really good. I’d take a Band 2 job like a shot if I were you, and take a look at other jobs once you’re in.

MrsKHB · 26/03/2019 22:45

Hi OP. Have a look at a ward clerk role if you want to get a feel for NHS admin jobs.

You get all the experience of admin while being involved with patients and relatives. Good luck

WTFIsAGleepglorp · 27/03/2019 09:02

Clinical coding is pretty niche.

You're looking for a trainee role, but a lot of hospitals are converting 'trainee' to 'apprentice'.

There are two main sites for NHS jobs.

The 'official' NHS jobs site and trac.jobs.

Sign up for job alerts in NHS trusts near you.

Original poster
downlo · 27/03/2019 09:05

WTFIsAGleepglorp thanks. I wouldn't mind doing an apprenticeship. I've looked on the NHS jobs site and have come across a trainee role not too far from me. I hope to apply but have seen on other forums that it's hard to get into?!

OP posts:
MicrocellularOrganism · 27/03/2019 09:35

If you want to get into Coding, I would look into doing a medical terminology course and maybe updating computer skills, would give you more of a chance at getting a trainee clinical coding role if any come up.

I have done clinical coding in general practice in the past and to be honest I found it really tedious and boring, I couldnt wait to get back to the variety of med sec work! But each to their own.

cannycat20 · 29/03/2019 17:46

Ward clerk is probably one of the most stressful admin jobs you can do, according to the ones I observed. Although one of the hospitals I worked for was known as the absolute battiest in the region. I'll never forget the day the hospital was falling down around our ears and the senior management thought it was appropriate to have an Easter Egg Hunt in the grounds. Just for them. Not for kids, or to raise money for charity, or as a boost to the healthcare staff. Just for the senior management team. And we all regularly used to joke it should have been called the SS Titanic Trust. But then the other hospitals I worked for were really well run, so well run that it verged on being boring.

The NHS is the biggest employer in England, and every hospital is like its own little village, so there are masses of jobs people don't realise going on.

Accounts departments, payroll, libraries (not the choc chip cookies and Mills and Boon ones, they're run by volunteers, but educational libraries for the staff), information officers, medical records, coding jobs - have a look at NHS jobs, new jobs are added every day. www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles is a good site as well. And yes, if you're in the right hospital, career progression is very good; and since it's a national organisation, often moving from one Trust to another is very straightforward, if a bit lengthy and you obviously have to go through interviews and things. Good luck.

WickedAlwaysWins · 29/03/2019 17:59

I work in admin (mainly coding) in general practice. You’re more than welcome to PM me if you have any questions about coding/the job and I’ll do my best to answer. The way things are done vary from practice to practice but happy to give you an overview :)

Original poster
downlo · 29/03/2019 19:05

*cannycat20" Thanks. Thats a great link. There's so many interesting roles in their but I don't have the brains for them!

OP posts:
TiredTodayZzzz · 29/03/2019 19:13

My mum works in admin in the NHS. She used to really enjoy it years ago but inow it's getting much more stressful she says. I'm going to do a medical admin course at college soon and she keeps telling me not to apply for an NHS job as I'll hate it but it's what I want to do. I've worked in admin and really enjoy it but have been out of work too long now so hoping a college course will boost my chances of getting a job with the added bonus of the medical part as like you I've always wanted to work in a medical setting.

gamerwidow · 29/03/2019 19:17

There are a huge variety of admin roles in the NHS many of which have nothing to do with a clinical service. There are roles in finance, IT, comms, estates, education, workforce, governance, information etc.
Have a look at NHS business administration apprenticeship roles. We recruit via Hawk Training so that might be a good starting place but I’m sure there are other recruiters out there too.

bellalou1234 · 29/03/2019 19:18

I used to be a secretary in the safeguarding team at a local trust. I had nvq level 3 in admin so no secretary qualifications. Very interesting role, lots of opportunities to move around once your in.

gamerwidow · 29/03/2019 19:19

P.s. I’ve recruited 3 Business Adminstration Apprentices recently and none of them have had previous NHS experience.

Meltinthemiddle · 07/06/2021 20:50

Does anyone work as a Health Records Assistant? I've seen a job role but I have no admin experience but currently doing level 2 business and admin course?

Newbiehereee · 04/01/2023 02:01

I'm due to start as an nhs administrator next month. I'm really not sure what to expect as I've never worked in a hospital before. Would be great to hear anyones experience. I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks

CeriB82 · 04/01/2023 07:06

I already have an admin job with local government (part time) and I applied for a bank admin job. During interview it was explained that it wasn’t ad-hoc but based on a few weeks etc to cover illness etc.

i explained I couldn’t do that but we carried on with the interview anyway. I thought it went down hill after that but I was offered the job even though I couldn’t accept!

still looking to apply for a bank admin (weekends/BH in A&E is the preferred one). My interviewer did speak to the administrator and asked for my name to be put down but yet to hear.

Original poster
downlo · 04/01/2023 08:09

Op here. This is an old thread from 2019. I did get an interview for the trainee clinical coding role but the interviewers were absolutely rude and awful. Worst interview experience ever. Really put me off! Asking if I was done have any kids as it looks like I wouldn't be committed etc.

Anyways I ended up getting a job in my local college and a bank weekend job in the nhs. This has worked out really well as i work from home now from the college most days and not sure if that would have been possible in NHS.

OP posts:
ifonly4 · 04/01/2023 08:10

We're going back a few years ago, but I used to be a legal secretary and wanted a change. I started working for the NHS as a Relief Secretary, covering others if they were on holiday, ill or overflow. I went in with no experience, picked it all up fairly quickly, but to be honest I got bored as my work was very repetitive. From this point of view, I'd want to know exactly what I'd be doing on a day to day basis. Anyway, I went back to legal work where i stayed for ten years and loved it.

Also, the secretaries didn't have the same relationship I've had with my previous bosses - if you couldn't really the doctors/surgeons handwriting or hear them clearly on audio (hard with foreign accents sometime or distorted tapes), it was considered to be an insult to check with them.

Newbiehereee · 06/01/2023 12:29

I start next month, administrator band 2,nhs hospital. Not sure what to expect during my first week. Would be great if someone could share their experience. Thanks 😊

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