Hospital porter

In this role, you'll help people in hospitals get around the building. You'll also deliver the vital supplies and equipment that keep the hospital running smoothly.

Hospital porters help transport patients safely, for example from their ward to the X-ray department. As part of this, you'll help the person into a wheelchair or onto a hospital trolley. You'll take them to the right place at the right time and bring them back to their ward.

Sometimes, patients may be frightened or in pain. Hospital porters must be friendly, helpful and able to cope well when people are sick or distressed.

Your work could take you anywhere across the hospital site. In some healthcare settings, you'll help with security – this may involve working on the reception desk and doing patrols.

Your tasks might include:

• moving patients between wards and departments

• dealing with incoming and outgoing mail

• delivering clean linen to wards from the laundry department

• collecting domestic and clinical waste, some of which may be hazardous

• transporting furniture and medical equipment safely

• transferring files, specimen samples and pharmacy boxes to different parts of the hospital

• Disclosure Scotland – learn more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

• NHS Scotland Careers – find out how you can become a hospital porter