200222 Medical Secretary (EG)
NHS Lothian
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Good employer
- Good shift notice
- Respectful managers
- Proper breaks
About NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian is an NHS board in Scotland. They oversee publicly funded medical and healthcare provider across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.
Job description from NHS Lothian
To provide medical secretarial and administrative support to clinicians and other members of the multi disciplinary teams (MDT)
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
NHS Scotland is reducing their full time working week from 37.5 to 37 hours per week from 1 April 2024 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff. This advert and any subsequent offer/contract of employment therefore reflects the new working hours. However, as not all service areas will be able to adopt the 37 hour working week immediately from 1 April 2024, you may be required to work up to an additional 30 minutes per week for a temporary period for which you would be paid until the service you are working in changes rosters or working patterns to accommodate the new reduced working week. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Recruiting Board.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
**Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage**
For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions please contact joanna.ablett@nhs.scot.uk or tessa.mcgurk@nhs.scot.uk
Map
Edinburgh
What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do NHS Lothian pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
93% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 41 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.00 per hour, and £13.15 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
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Most people are paid market rates
Do NHS Lothian pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
81% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at NHS Lothian get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
75% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Good
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Most people get sick pay
Do NHS Lothian pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
87% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 45 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Good
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Most people don’t do unpaid extra work
Do workers at NHS Lothian do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
72% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Good
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4+ weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at NHS Lothian?
Most people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 7% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 7% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 15% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 70% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 27 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at NHS Lothian worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
92% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 24 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do NHS Lothian workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
66% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for NHS Lothian workers to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
58% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at NHS Lothian?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
76% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
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Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do NHS Lothian managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
84% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at NHS Lothian?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
74% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 46 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Okay
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Only some parents say it’s good
Is working at NHS Lothian good if you’re a parent or carer?
Only some parents and carer say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
38% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at NHS Lothian feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
68% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Good
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Most people get proper breaks
Do people at NHS Lothian get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
69% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at NHS Lothian?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
69% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at NHS Lothian enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
92% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at NHS Lothian recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
50% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 48 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at NHS Lothian?
Some people did’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
38% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 47 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at NHS Lothian?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 52% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think NHS Lothian head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
80% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 45 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how NHS Lothian is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
65% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 43 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What NHS Lothian employees say about their job
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Best thing
I work within a good team.
Worst thing
Senior management are not intouch with the reality of day to day work or having to work with broken and defective equipment.
NHS Lothian Chef, July 2024
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Best thing
Getting to see patient’s progress in their recovery
Worst thing
The way the staff are treated, the tasks no one else wants to do is just dumped on me
NHS Lothian Clinical support worker, June 2024
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