General Porter

Job overview

To work as part of the operational team responsible for providing a comprehensive patient support service in the hospital environment.  This will involve carrying out the following Facilities Management functions: •    The primary function is the movement of patients, consumable products, waste, furniture, medical equipment, gasses, beds, mattresses etc. •    The cleaning of all Portering equipment, delivery of blood products and responding to Major incident. •    To deliver emergency blood products  •    UK Manual driving licence is essential for this post.

To provide a high quality responsive, efficient and effective patient support service to wards, and departments in North Bristol NHS Trust acting in a caring and professional manner and working in line with the Facilities and departmental operating procedures.

UK Manual Driving Licence Required.

Main duties of the job

Physical Effort  • Duties involve standing/walking for long periods of time during the shift  • Duties may involve undertaking physically demanding tasks e.g. moving cages of approximately 300kg in weight as and when required

Mental Effort  • Being aware of health and safety implications involved in duties and their potential effect on others e.g. Ensuring that equipment is stored appropriately

• At ward level keeping a professional distance from patients and ensuring confidentiality at all times  • Working to schedules which may be subject to change

Emotional effort  • Whilst working at ward level being able to cope with witnessing distressing sights of patients who are very ill and may be at the end stages of life  • Whilst working in the Emergency Department witnessing traumatic injuries  • In the course of your duties you will need to be sensitive when coming into contact with patients and members of the public who may be experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety are confrontational or under the influence of alcohol

Working conditions  • You will be expected to display a professional image at all times  • You will be required to wear clean official uniform and covered in low-heeled footwear  • You will be expected to comply the department and trust policies relating to uniform and the wearing of jewellery, nail polish etc

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Carrying out daily duties as instructed by PST Team Leader and/or FM Duty Manager •    Contribute to a team approach in conjunction with clinical , medical staff and allied healthcare professionals •    To Transport Patients in a safe manner via wheelchair, bed, trolley and by internal Ambulance •    To when necessary transfer patients who are when confirmed by medical staff do not  require a medical escort to and from wards and departments – Escorts will always be provided for internal Ambulance transfers  •    Assist with transfer of Patients from Helicopter landing pad to A&E •    Transportation of the deceased to the mortuary including babies in a dignified manner •    Delivery and collection of diagnostic samples •    Provide support in the event of serious injury or emergency to assist response teams dealing with major incidents, code red, code blue and code orange, fire alarms  •    To respond to both code red and blue in a timely manner •    Carry out allocated specific transport duties as instructed by Team Leader or appropriate manager  •    To carry a bleep outside office hours to ensure service provision is met •    Assist with moving and handling patients who may be ambulatory or wheelchair bound using appropriate equipment where necessary.  Assisting with transferring immobile patients in and out of bed, stretcher or vehicle as necessary •    Conveying patients medical equipment as required •    Assist patients to and from the vehicle both prior and following transportation  •    Collection of soiled linen from wards and departments to be taken to the designated waste hold •    Delivery and collection of medical gas cylinders to wards and departments and the fitting of applicable regulators •    Collection and delivery of blood products to clinical and ward locations in line with local protocols •    To deliver Pharmacy items •    Delivery and collection of hospital supplies as directed and where appropriate, complete the relevant paperwork.  Supplies may include, but are not limited to; post, medical records, medical equipment, pharmaceutical product etc •    Transportation of furniture to and from wards and departments •    Responsible for reporting all items of Portering equipment, defects to the Team Leader