Patient Access Manager

Job Summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Patient Access Manager to work closely with the Gastroenterology/Endoscopy Service within the Surgery Division. Ideally for this post you will have experience in the management of patient pathways and validation for both Cancer and RTT. Excellent experience working with clinical teams to deliver a service, and experience in line managing staff. A proven track record of experience in Outpatient and Theatre planning. You will need to be a flexible team player, able to re‑prioritise yours and your team's workload at short notice to support services facing constantly changing priorities. Main Duties of the Job This role will provide operational assistance to the Operational Manager for the Surgery, assisting in the day‑to‑day management of the Gastroenterology/Endoscopy Service at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. They will provide management support to the service in the delivery of elective and outpatient lists and ensuring the Trust meets national and local targets. The post holder will also contribute and support the Operational Managers with any administrative or business planning requirements within the Surgery Division. About Us At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust. Details Date posted: 21 November 2025 Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: 6 Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working Reference number: 279‑7518124‑NOV25 Job location: Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE Job Description & Responsibilities Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants. Role Summary: This role is a key member of the Department’s management team, working towards the achievement of key patient access targets for the Directorate. Work will include: Ensuring the flow of patients into available clinics and theatre slots by setting up accurate templates. Managing outpatient and inpatient waiting lists (both RTT and non‑RTT patients) on behalf of the Directorate Managers, avoiding backlog through proactive management and opening of clinic and theatre list availability. Dealing with peaks in activity by managing the allocation of extra capacity clinics. Early identification of capacity issues affecting performance of 18‑week, 2‑week wait and other referral‑to‑treatment standards. Ensuring the ratio of new and follow‑up clinic slots is appropriate to meet demand, serving as the main conveyor of information between the Directorate and the booking hub. Working closely with the validation team, booking colleagues and clinicians to ensure all data entries on PAS correctly reflect patients’ RTT status and data accuracy within their Directorate(s). Working with clinical teams to ensure they fully understand the requirements of the Patient Access Policy, ensuring adherence across their areas of responsibility. Informing the development and implementation of service‑improvement policies, strategies and procedures that may impact on a range of services, ensuring the Trust meets its statutory obligations and NHS targets with respect to the service area. Working closely with clinicians, nurses and all clinical staff to ensure patients are actively managed through their pathways. Managing the patient pathway from triage, first outpatient appointment, through diagnostics, treatment planning and treatment, highlighting potential delays to both the Directorate Manager and Head of Booking & Clinical Administration Services. Checking and reporting on consultants’ triage of new referrals to ensure that the service meets the 48‑hour target, ensuring coding proformas are current and up to date. Identifying extra capacity slots required by each Service to meet national targets with the correct staffing and skill mix required to treat the patient lists. Managing knowledge on the PTL on behalf of the Directorate. Keeping the Directorate Management Team fully updated on patient demand versus current capacity, communicating any changes. Reviewing outpatient, inpatient and day‑case waiting lists and continuously monitoring all patient pathways, including identifying blockages, bottlenecks and risks to patient care from inadequate timescales. Ensuring adherence to Trust policies and procedures, in particular the Patient Access Policy, and recommending systems and processes that improve compliance. Minimising clinic cancellations by ensuring a 6‑week look‑forward of consultant availability is tracked to clinic templates, thereby avoiding late cancellations and arranging alternative availability where possible. Person Specification Essential Previous management and change‑management experience within the NHS Knowledge of access policy and RTT pathways Five GCSEs including Maths and English (or equivalent) Experience of teambuilding and effective working relationships Ability to communicate complex, contentious and sensitive information Desirable Leadership/Management qualification Ability to present complex data Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role) Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer Details Employer name: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279) Address: Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE Employer website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ #J-18808-Ljbffr