Medical secretary jobs in London
The job of a medical secretary is often as rewarding as it is demanding. For the majority of medical secretaries in London and other major cities in and around the UK, the role calls for a great amount of personal interaction with patients seeking treatment. This, according to many individuals working in the sector, can be a highly gratifying experience, particularly when the positive transformation in patients before and after treatment is significant.
It thus goes without saying that those wishing to embark upon such a profession should be personable, friendly individuals who enjoy interacting with others throughout their working day. However, as with any secretarial position, there is a certain amount of technical and practical administrative knowledge that is essential to the role, over and above an amiable demeanour. Many career advisors believe that medical and legal secretaries are the “specialists” of the secretarial world, and are hence expected to be highly proficient in an administrative role, as well as knowledgeable about the field in which they are employed.
Read on to find out what qualifications and skills are required in such a position, and to find out whether you would be a suitable candidate for a medical secretary job in London or the UK.
Medical secretarial jobs: Skills and qualifications required
Medical secretaries fulfil a crucial role as the link between doctor and patient, and for this reason are required to be tactful, discreet and, above all, sensitive. Of the greatest import, however, is the candidate’s ability to successfully complete an array of administrative and technical tasks pertaining to the job, such as compiling confidential letters, typing reports for medical journals and ensuring the general flawless running of the office.
Medical secretaries may also be expected to be proficient in medical shorthand, medical audio-typing or medical word processing. While some training may take place on the job, specialised skills such as these can only be acquired through the completion of an AMSPAR Level 3 Advanced Diploma for Medical Secretaries. This is the UK’s sole nationally-recognised qualification for administrators, secretaries and receptionists in the healthcare sector, and is offered by the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists (AMSPAR). Some employers in the sector may insist upon this qualification, whilst others may be content to hire a candidate with sufficient secretarial skills, or who is working towards completing the course.
Although the AMSPAR diploma is not an essential qualification for medical secretaries, it is required for employment in certain areas of the NHS – and is generally considered to be advantageous to any individual seeking employment in this sphere. The course educates trainee medical secretaries in important medical terminology and information that is essential to specific roles within the NHS. It may be completed on a full or part-time basis. This qualification, combined with expert secretarial skills, should stand individuals in good stead when they apply for medical secretary jobs in London.
Wages, hours and opportunities for London medical secretaries
Well-qualified, experienced UK and London medical secretaries are able to secure work in a number of areas within the healthcare sector. The majority of jobs exist in the NHS, but medical secretaries may also acquire roles in private healthcare centres and clinics, pharmaceutical firms, research companies and medical schools.
The demand for skilled medical secretaries in London, as well as in the rest of the UK, is relatively steady, and permanent and temporary work (either in the form of short-term contracts or casual employment) may be attained through medical secretarial employment agencies. Students wishing to gain valuable work experience whilst completing their course of study would be well-advised to undertake temporary medical secretary work in order to hone their industry-related skills and knowledge.
Generally, medical secretaries are required to work a 35 to 40 hour week from Monday to Friday; however, part-time, temporary and flexi-time work is often available within this sector. Remuneration packages are fairly attractive, with starting salaries beginning at about £12,500 per annum. As is expected, the more advanced one’s skills and experience, the greater one’s salary: Senior medical secretaries can earn up to £20,000 per annum, while highly-qualified chartered secretaries could earn as much as two or three times this figure each year.
Bear in mind that full-time employees who have achieved an AMSPAR qualification may command higher salaries than those who lack this diploma, although the qualification has little impact on the salaries of temporary workers.
LondonCareers.net will help you to kick-start your career today! Simply make use of our online job search to find the London medical secretary job that’s perfect for you.
