Any medical secretaries about? What qualification do I need?

[MadameCastafiore]

Have decided after much soul searching that I would like to be a medical secretary. Love all medically things - the terminology, the fact that no 2 days are the same and I wouldn;t have to deal with Nobby Finance Bods (i.e. WANKERS!) ever again. Have also been told that the NHS are good when it comes to hours you work and job shares and felxible working whihc would suit me.

So getting on, I have worked as a PA for years getting to Board level of a major investment bank, so am pretty competant at that side of things but obviously will need a proper medical terminology qualification.

Should I go for the Pitman's Medical Secretary Introduction or the BSMSA Course in Medical Terminology? The Pitman one is £600 and the BSMSA is half that - which one is better though and is either more 'recognised' in the industry?

Thanking anyone who manages to get through that and takes the time to post.

Ha ha - and upon reading that, I really must stress that I can type properly whan I have to!

Ha ha - and upon reading that, I must stress, I can type properly when I have to!

Bloody hell, must preview (or get a decent laptop!)!

AMSPAR - their website is here. If you have extensive office experience anyway then I would just go for the Medical Terminology Level II or III. You can study at home and then just pay for the exams. Personally I would not do the courses you have mentioned. They are pretty basic and you would probably be bored to tears. You really only need the Terminology. You will be registered with AMSPAR and can put this on your cv. NHS and private doctors all ask for it, you can get a job without of course but will walk into one with it.

I worked as a medical secretary for 3 years and am currently studying this qualification to get back into it. Don't know when this will be as ds has ASD and am working round that at the moment.

The NHS are great with things like jobshare and flexible work hours. I used to cover for an employee who when she took the job on permanently negotiated that she would not work during school holidays and would finish on time to pick her kids up. One of her dc had special needs. I am hoping I would be able to negotiate something like this. If not I could temp and take school hols off.

Whereabouts are you? Temping as a medical secretary is pretty well paid in London and larger cities and is a great way to get experience.