Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Apprentice Medical Secretary - Oncology & Haematology

The closing date is 26 March 2026

Job summary

14 month Fixed Term Contract - Apprenticeship

We welcome applications from individuals wishing to become an Apprentice and gain experience in the NHS. You will develop new skills and knowledge whilst working with an established team gaining valuable work experience and a recognised apprenticeship qualification.

You will be enrolled with a local education provider and will be required to complete yourLevel 3 Business Admin Apprenticeship Standard qualification within the duration of the placement.

The Oncology and Haematology Directorate consists of Outpatients within the Colney Centre, Mulbarton Ward and Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy treatment areas. Paperless processes are in place for chemotherapy treatments and in development for radiotherapy with a dedicated software system including electronic paper records. The department has a year-on-year increase in new referrals and treatments and has recently expanded the radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment areas.

Main duties of the job

You will be working across both specialties to support the delivery of administration services including typing, filing, scanning, copying, dealing with enquiries and processing patient information.

To support the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service, all staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently demonstrate NNUH's 'PRIDE' values of People focused, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence and demonstrate behaviours that support and encourage an inclusive culture.

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must be: o Aged 16+o Resident in the UK/EEA for the last three consecutive yearso Must not have a qualification in a similar subject at the same level or aboveo Must not be in any form of formal government-funded education upon the start of their apprenticeshipQualifications and Skills Required:o Good general standard of educationo 4 GCSE's at Grade D/3 or above (or equivalent)o Good standard of literacy and numeracyo Good communication and interpersonal skillso Good IT skills

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

  • Flexible working hours
  • Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
  • Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
  • Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
  • Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
  • Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
  • On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
  • On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
  • Support in career development
  • Flexible staff bank
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£14,722 a year per annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-25-I1800

Job locations

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquires from patients, all levels of medical and nursing staff, GPs, Social Services and other health professionals and staff. Respond to enquiries, providing routine and non-routine information and non-clinical advice, resolving problems where possible. Communicate appropriately with patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have sensitive concerns needing reassurance and who may present difficulties in communication e.g. terminally ill patients, deaf patients, mentally ill patients and elderly confused patients.
  • Assist patients and their carers by arranging translation/interpretation facilities via INTRAN.
  • Attend to all communications, for example, emails, faxes, investigation results on a daily basis
  • Accurately transcribe all correspondence by touch typing from audio dictation or shorthand using knowledge of medical terminology. Generate routine and non-routine correspondence independently.
  • Adding patients to waiting lists as requested taking into account patients preference.
  • Arrange urgent admissions direct from clinic, contacting the patient and liaising with Wards, Theatres and Clinics as necessary.
  • Organise and support meetings including minute taking as necessary.
  • Maintain the Consultants diary, booking appointments with hospital representatives and liaising regarding lectures/meetings.
  • Processing the Consultants annual leave requests with Medical Staffing, informing all relevant departments and staff of forthcoming leave to ensure services are co-ordinated around this leave e.g. re-scheduling clinics and operating lists accordingly.
  • Assist Appointment Booking Clerks in the management of Outpatient waiting lists by advising them on patient priority in relation to availability of clinic slots, referring to colleagues for assistance/guidance as necessary.
  • Make Outpatient appointments in response to urgent referrals, overbooking clinics as necessary.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquires from patients, all levels of medical and nursing staff, GPs, Social Services and other health professionals and staff. Respond to enquiries, providing routine and non-routine information and non-clinical advice, resolving problems where possible. Communicate appropriately with patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have sensitive concerns needing reassurance and who may present difficulties in communication e.g. terminally ill patients, deaf patients, mentally ill patients and elderly confused patients.
  • Assist patients and their carers by arranging translation/interpretation facilities via INTRAN.
  • Attend to all communications, for example, emails, faxes, investigation results on a daily basis
  • Accurately transcribe all correspondence by touch typing from audio dictation or shorthand using knowledge of medical terminology. Generate routine and non-routine correspondence independently.
  • Adding patients to waiting lists as requested taking into account patients preference.
  • Arrange urgent admissions direct from clinic, contacting the patient and liaising with Wards, Theatres and Clinics as necessary.
  • Organise and support meetings including minute taking as necessary.
  • Maintain the Consultants diary, booking appointments with hospital representatives and liaising regarding lectures/meetings.
  • Processing the Consultants annual leave requests with Medical Staffing, informing all relevant departments and staff of forthcoming leave to ensure services are co-ordinated around this leave e.g. re-scheduling clinics and operating lists accordingly.
  • Assist Appointment Booking Clerks in the management of Outpatient waiting lists by advising them on patient priority in relation to availability of clinic slots, referring to colleagues for assistance/guidance as necessary.
  • Make Outpatient appointments in response to urgent referrals, overbooking clinics as necessary.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 4 GCSEs at D/3 or above (or equivalent)

Experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a team
  • Previous experience of using Microsoft Office

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Customer care skills, diplomacy, sensitivity and ability to analyse situations

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 4 GCSEs at D/3 or above (or equivalent)

Experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a team
  • Previous experience of using Microsoft Office

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Customer care skills, diplomacy, sensitivity and ability to analyse situations

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Admin Manager

Bethany Knights

Bethany.knights@nnuh.nhs.uk

01603287068

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£14,722 a year per annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-25-I1800

Job locations

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Supporting documents

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