Treatment Scheduler - Oncology & Haematology

Job overview

As part of this busy and exciting role, you will support the Department by acting as a point of contact for patients undergoing SACT treatment. Using specialty trained knowledge of treatment regimens and medical terminology, you will schedule treatments in ‘real time’ on our systems, PAS and ARIA and notifying the Admin Manager and Operational Manager of waiting times to avoid issues. Completing electronic discharge letters for Weybourne Day Unit (WDU) and our Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU). Greeting patients as they arrive for treatment by admitting them and discharging them upon completion, always ensuring patient safety and referring patients to the appropriate colleagues to help with their concerns or problems.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will be working with Nurses, Clinical Oncologists and Haematologists, Radiotherapy Schedulers and Management to plan a series of appointments for patients who are referred to the department for treatment.

This is a challenging but rewarding role; you will need excellent and approachable verbal communication and organisational skills, as you will be the first point of contact for patients, their carers and other healthcare professionals. A strong eye for detail is essential in this role due to the specific pathways and treatment regimens that can change overnight.

This role is pivotal in maintaining the smooth day to day operation of clerical and administrative support for SACT treatments.  You will be using several unique computer systems, as well as common hospital systems. In house training will be provided for the successful candidate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We understand and feel passionate about the needs of our patients, and how best to provide for those needs in an intelligent, effective and efficient manner. We would be delighted to receive applications from candidates who are interested in playing an integral role in providing administrative support in a very busy but friendly department. We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual who enjoys patient contact and working in a friendly, multi-disciplinary environment. The post-holder will be expected to deliver a high quality service within a performance managed environment. You will work collaboratively to provide a high standard of treatment scheduling and administrative service at a leading Cancer Centre which prides itself on clinical excellence.

At NNUH, we strive to provide our staff with their individual developmental needs to achieve their career aspiration. If your aim is to be the best treatment scheduler or aspire to go further in your career, we will ensure that we support you either way.

We strive to promote innovation, listening to our staff and patients to improve services for our patients and local population. In this role you will have opportunities to work with clinicians, nurses, managers and other professionals to adapt, improve and create new ways of working for the benefit of our services.

• Use judgement and knowledge of medical terminology and treatment regimes to schedule patients for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, ensuring appropriate appointments are booked for each patient, complying with Cancer Waiting Times targets and departmental protocols.
• Communicate efficiently and effectively with patients, nursing staff, clinicians, pharmacists, radiographers and departments within the NNUH, as well as GPs and other hospitals.
• Communicate sensitively and appropriately with all patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have physical/mental disabilities which may make communication difficult. This communication may be both face to face or by telephone.
• To ensure that on the patient’s arrival to Weybourne Day Unit or Acute Oncology, they are confirmed to have arrived on the systems (PAS and ARIA Notes).
• To ensure patients safety and well-being in the waiting area prior to them being called for their treatment and to refer patients with specific problems or concerns to the appropriate staff member e.g. treatment radiographer, chemotherapy nurse, consultant oncologist or haematologist.
• Monitor patients’ treatment plans and utilise knowledge and experience to investigate with clinical staff any atypical requests.
• Add patients to PAS waiting list and schedule TCI appointments for chemotherapy and other procedures on WDU. Review and update these entries via an Elective Planned Report, identifying anomalies and ensuring accuracy. Print patient wrist bands.
• Monitor and inform the Admin Manager & Operational Manager of waiting times for chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment slots and highlight in advance if there are any issues which may affect the waiting list or the wait for an individual patient.
• Identify any outstanding prescriptions and escalate appropriately to the relevant consultant(s) to ensure drugs are prescribed for relevant days. Advise Pharmacy, WDU staff and teleclinic nurses of any cancellations, additions or deferred patients.
• Responsible for booking alternative procedures, i.e blood transfusions, PICC flush/dressing and port flushes etc.  Label blood prescriptions for clinicians to complete and sign. Coordinating the blood prescriptions to the relevant department or hospital. Inform the patient to ensure they have the relevant appointment information.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 4131 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.