Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Secretary - Cellular Pathology

The closing date is 03 December 2025

Job summary

This role requires you to have current right to work in the UK which enables you to undertake the role without need of sponsorship. Accordingly, we regret that any application will not be considered if this requirement is not met. Given the current UK immigration requirements this role is not eligible for sponsorship, and it is not possible for the Trust to sponsor applicants for a visa for this role.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Secretary to join our Cellular Pathology Department.

Working as part of the team, you will be expected to provide a high quality, comprehensive, and confidential secretarial service to the Department.

You will be expected to accurately input specimen details, descriptions and reports onto the Laboratory Information Management system. To take part in quality assurance within the role to maintain department standards, as set out by UKAS ISO15189.

Main duties of the job

Successful applicant will join the Cellular Pathology Secretarial team and carry out all aspects of administration within the department. For full details see the responsibilities listed below, and in the attached job description.

All tasks will be completed following departmental standard operating procedures. The post holder will undergo a period of training then will work unsupervised once deem competent.

About us

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Details

Date posted

26 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7285646

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Use the pathology IT system (Winpath) to input and retrieve information concerning patients and specimens, maintaining at all times a high degree of accuracy.

2. Produce accurately typed and formatted Cellular Pathology reports from handwritten or audio dictation, using template reports where available. These reports are confidential and may be of a sensitive nature e.g. cancer diagnosis, fertility assessment etc.

3. Accurately upload reports from external providers to Winpath. This may involve copy-typing hard copies, or copy-and-pasting electronic reports, with subsequent formatting to bring the reports in line with Cellular Pathology report templates.

4. Type letters and other correspondence for Cellular Pathology medical staff.

5. Print Cellular Pathology reports when necessary, for distribution via post or email.

Please see attached job description for further information.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Use the pathology IT system (Winpath) to input and retrieve information concerning patients and specimens, maintaining at all times a high degree of accuracy.

2. Produce accurately typed and formatted Cellular Pathology reports from handwritten or audio dictation, using template reports where available. These reports are confidential and may be of a sensitive nature e.g. cancer diagnosis, fertility assessment etc.

3. Accurately upload reports from external providers to Winpath. This may involve copy-typing hard copies, or copy-and-pasting electronic reports, with subsequent formatting to bring the reports in line with Cellular Pathology report templates.

4. Type letters and other correspondence for Cellular Pathology medical staff.

5. Print Cellular Pathology reports when necessary, for distribution via post or email.

Please see attached job description for further information.

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • GCSE grade C or above in English, or equivalent
  • NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Desirable

  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
  • Secretarial qualification
  • Administration qualification
  • RSA2 or equivalent in keyboard skills

Experience

Essential

  • Previous secretarial/administrative experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working within pathology
  • Previous experience of working in a hospital
  • A knowledge of pathology-specific medical terminology
  • Experience in using Microsoft office packages, especially Word and Excel
  • Customer services experience
Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • GCSE grade C or above in English, or equivalent
  • NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Desirable

  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
  • Secretarial qualification
  • Administration qualification
  • RSA2 or equivalent in keyboard skills

Experience

Essential

  • Previous secretarial/administrative experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working within pathology
  • Previous experience of working in a hospital
  • A knowledge of pathology-specific medical terminology
  • Experience in using Microsoft office packages, especially Word and Excel
  • Customer services experience

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

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager

Matthew Long

matthew.long1@nhs.net

01793604278

Details

Date posted

26 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7285646

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Supporting documents

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