There are many members of staff behind the scenes that you may not be aware of.
Receptionists
Your first point of contact with the surgery is usually through the receptionist. We have a large number of receptionists across both surgeries and there are usually 7 - 8 receptionists on duty at peak times. Their main duties are to book appointments, answer queries and help patients wherever they can. Each receptionist also has their own area of administrative duties.
Summarisers
We have 3 summarisers at Hanham Health. They are in charge of translating the old paper records into the computer records we use today. Everything we need to record has a special code called a ‘read code’. The summarisers have the lengthy task of going through the paper notes of new patients and adding the appropriate read codes to the clinical system. They also look at, and code, all incoming documents that need to be put on the clinical system.
Medical Secretaries
The secretaries have the important task of arranging all referrals. They type dictated letters, answer queries from GPs, answer lots of telephone calls from specialists, patients, secretaries, and GPs. They are also asked to create presentations for meetings, invoice for private services, take minutes during meetings, and many other things.
IT Department
There is an IT team that work at Hanham Health to aid the day to day running of the computer systems. They are responsible for maintaining, the clinical computers, the surgery printers, and training staff to use the IT systems. They also monitor the website, and any electrical clinical equipment used at the surgery.
Prescription Team
We have a Prescription Clerk whose job it is to produce the large numbers of repeat prescriptions we issue every day. They are also responsible for liaising with local pharmacies, handling patient hospital discharge summaries and managing any drug changes that the practice undertakes.
