General Porter - Royal Brompton Hospital

Job overview

A General Porter within the Royal Brompton Hospital Site Services Department (Facilities) plays an essential role in supporting the safe and efficient operation of hospital services.

The postholder enables effective patient flow and supports clinical and non‑clinical teams by transporting patients, equipment, materials, and essential items across the hospital site.

The role directly contributes to high‑quality patient care by ensuring timely and professional movement services.

Main duties of the job

Duties to include the movement of patients, specimens, blood products, gas cylinders, transfer of bodies including preparation for viewing and any other duties commensurate with the post.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The safe transportation of patients throughout the Hospital site by bed, trolley, wheelchair ensuring guidelines are used within the quality procedures (PID 07 and 08).

To maintain proper care and attention to patients at all times, ensuring to maintain patient dignity and to minimise distress, assure and assist during transfers.

To participate in maintaining standards of hygiene, cleanliness and infection control, reporting problems as appropriate

To communicate sensitively and courteously with patients, visitors and staff at all levels and at the same time deal with ongoing enquiries.

Secure transportation of specimens from wards and departments to any Trust location(s), in addition to Pathology and the laboratories in accordance with policy and quality procedures (PID 03).

Secure transportation of bloods to and from any hospital area / department / ward ensuring that cross reference is made against request form, blood book and blood component/product to meet blood collection legislation including collection and distribution of crash blood in line with legislation, including collection and distribution of crash blood in line with legislation. (PID 14)

Safe transportation of medical gas cylinders and associated equipment for use throughout the Trust, following implicitly the set health & safety protocols. (PID 12)

Safe transportation of Medical Equipment (MEMS)  , out of hours when requested through Epic, for use throughout the Trust,  in line with the set protocols.

Safe transportation of medications and pharmaceuticals out of hours when the pharmacy team no longer provide this service.

Transfer of beds, trolleys in line with quality document (PID 07) and other medical and non-medical equipment to any Trust location.

Answer bleep for crash calls and Major Haemorrhage, ensuring rapid response within a timely manner, and continuing to blood bank when required until informed of stand down. (PID 14)

Removal and transfer of bodies including adults and children from any hospital location to the mortuary in a dignified and respectful manner including checking of jewellery at ward level in presence of a clinician for audit trail purposes and logging the deceased details on the mortuary refrigerator in line with quality documents (PID 04 and 05) and mortuary policy.

Prepare bodies including adults and children for viewing by relatives ensuring that deceased patient is suitable for viewing purposes in line with quality document (PID 06) and mortuary policy and where necessary assist the nurse when escorting relatives to the chapel of rest for viewing purposes.

To be responsible for delivering life saving equipment to an arrest e.g. running heart defibrillators to any location within the hospital and to be on standby at cardiac arrests to collect and deliver anything required for the patient. (PID 09)

To carry out the cleaning of wheelchairs between each patient use in accordance with the trust Infection Control policy. (PID 10)

To ensure that wheelchairs are gathered throughout the day and parked at the appropriate location, reporting faults as appropriate.

To take corrective action when required and where observed report defects and unsafe conditions.

Observe and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.

Staff will attain all quality standards and systems laid down in the quality procedures.

To inform the Senior/Site Services Supervisor of any delay on the ward / department and seek advice.

Staff will maintain the highest standards of courtesy and respect to patients, relatives and each other at all times.

Always ensure the highest standards of personal hygiene and tidiness, including the wearing of uniforms provided in line with the GSTT uniform policy.To undertake training programmes at any time deemed appropriate by the Trust.

Staff will ensure that they have a current I.D. badge and that it is worn at all times in a prominent place while on duty.

Staff will refrain from alcohol and mood-altering substances, and must not, in any way be under the influence of alcohol or mood-altering substances whilst on duty.Under no circumstances shall staff take any form of reward or remuneration from patients, escorts, relatives or anyone associated with the patient.

Staff will ensure that any complaints received are passed on promptly to the Senior/Site Services Supervisor.The post-holder will be expected to fulfil any duties allocated that are commensurate with the role.

To maintain the high standard of cleanliness in the rest room/ locker room provided at all times.

Ensure that the hand over of patient upon arriving to the clinic/department and wards are correctly followed in line with the trust protocol.

To always maintain confidentiality, in and out of the hospital environment.

To demonstrate an awareness of different cultural, ethnic and religious needs

Personal and Professional Development

• To take an active part in learning/ development activities and updates skills and knowledge as required by the Trust
• To actively participate in annual individual performance development review (PDR)

Communications:

Mobile Phones

The use of Personal mobile phones & earpieces whilst on duty is strictly prohibited.

Utilise the trust EPIC smartphone system to receive work and to report on work in progress. (PID 19)

Radios

Radios and or smart phones are to be used as part of the Portering operation and are required to be signed out at the beginning of the shift and signed in at the end of the shift. (PID18).

Staff are required to follow conditions relating to the activities of the licence i.e. use for voice transmission only, not transmit music, broadcast programmes or obscene and offensive language, not to be used as a public address system and not used to send misleading messages.