Call Handler NHS - Patient TriageNHS

Job summary

Penrose Health is seeking a motivated, resilient, and patient-focused Call Handler to join our busy patient triage team. Based in our London Bridge office, you will play a vital role in supporting the delivery of highquality primary care services to thousands of patients across London.

As the first point of contact for our patients, you will manage and triage inbound queries and requests via telephone and email, responding with empathy, professionalism, and efficiency. You will assess patient needs and ensure they are directed to the most appropriate service or clinician in a timely manner, helping to maintain safe and effective care pathways.

In addition to call handling, the role includes a range of administrative responsibilities, such as following up on patient requests, processing medication queries, supporting appointment bookings, and accurately updating patient records. You will work closely with our Contact Centre and Clinical teams, ensuring clear communication and smooth coordination so that every patient receives timely, appropriate, and compassionate care.

This role is well suited to someone who thrives in a fastpaced environment, is highly organised, and can balance patientfacing communication with essential administrative tasks.

Main duties of the job

• Triaging incoming patient calls and emails to ensure they are directed to the right service quickly and accurately
• Providing a calm, empathetic, and professional first point of contact for patients
• Managing a high volume of calls while maintaining attention to detail and quality of service
• Using clinical systems (e.g. EMIS) to log and track patient interactions
• Working closely with clinical and administrative teams to support patient care pathways
• Problem-solving on the spot to help patients navigate their healthcare needs
• Communicating clearly with a diverse patient population, sometimes in multiple languages
• Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to NHS data protection standards
• Continuously learning about NHS services and medical terminology to improve triage accuracy
• Supporting the wider Contact Centre team in delivering excellent patient experience

Job description

Purpose of the role

To support the delivery of high-quality primary care services by accurately triaging patient queries and requests. The role is central to ensuring patients receive timely and appropriate care through effective communication and coordination with clinical teams.

Key relationships

• Patients acting as their first point of contact, offering support and guidance with empathy and professionalism.
• Contact Centre Team collaborating with colleagues to manage patient queries efficiently and maintain service quality.
• Clinical Teams liaising with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients are triaged appropriately.
• Administrative Staff supporting practice operations and ensuring smooth communication across departments.

About us

Penrose Health is on a mission to deliver outstanding healthcare to every patient we serve.

We care for 75,000+ people across 9 sites in South East London, supported by a team of 200+ clinicians and staff. Our model is built on permanent, diverse teams, strong governance, and a clear focus on continuity, quality, and access.

We work closely with NHS partners to deliver a full range of services from routine checks to complex, long-term care backed by robust systems and a culture of continuous improvement.

We're proud to hold a CQC "Good" rating and consistently receive strong feedback from patients.

Learn more at penrosehealth.co.uk.