Patient Pathway Assistant

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

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Job Overview

The Plastic surgery Patient Pathway Assistant is responsible for supporting the Patient Pathway Coordinator to manage the inpatient and day case waiting lists for Consultant Plastic surgeons operating at Southmead Hospital, coordinating admission and associated pre-operative clinics and theatre lists.

To play a central role within these services and to work in close liaison with colleagues, staff in other departments, GPs, patients and the general public. To work well as part of a team whilst being able to use their own initiative to provide administrative support to the Patient Pathway Coordinator within the Plastic surgery team, to ensure effective high quality service is provided.

Main duties of the job

• To support the Patient Pathway Coordinator in working as part of a clinical team ensuring that patients are admitted efficiently for investigative treatments, diagnostic procedures and inpatient and day-case operations within national guidelines and in accordance with the trust’s Patients Access Policy. This includes: NHS Constitution, waiting time standards; Department of Health admission guidelines and booking rules.
• To add, remove and modify patients to and from the waiting list as requested by the Patient Pathway Coordinator or in accordance with the Trust’s Patient Access Policy.
• To book theatre lists, as dictated by the Patient Pathway Coordinator.
• As appropriate, schedule new or follow-up outpatient appointments, book pre-admission appointments, organise investigative treatments, diagnostic appointments and TCI/operation dates ensuring that patients are informed, with reasonable notice, and that all relevant paper work is completed for given appointment. This includes ensuring that all elective attendances/admissions are promptly and accurately recorded on the appropriate PAS system(s)
• Provide administrative support to consultant/clinical teams.
• To be responsible for the accurate completion of clinic letters once dictation has been received.
• To ensure all letters are copied to correct templates with correct patient details when received back from external typing company and send to the correct patient.
  
  

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Good general education including GSCE in Maths or English (or equivalent)
• Advanced keyboard and computer skills (Microsoft office)
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Patient Administration System (PAS) training
  
  

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Ability to demonstrate customer care skills
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience in NHS or similar organisation
• Knowledge of patient pathway
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent written/verbal communication skills
• The ability to work to tight deadlines
• Able to develop good working relationships amongst team, colleagues and clinical staff
• Willingness and ability to learn new IT skills and technology
  
  

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances

Essential criteria

• Able to work flexible to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to act under direction from senior members of the team
  
  

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
  
  

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.