Porter

Porters are essential for maintaining smooth operations by transporting patients, medical equipment, and supplies.

You will play a crucial role in ensuring efficiency and supporting the overall functioning of the health and care system, contributing to the delivery of quality care and services. Everyday you will encounter a variety of people, getting to know them and taking them to and from appointments or wards in wheelchairs or hospital beds. You will transport life saving medication and equipment to appropriate departments to help support people in care. Your hard work will be appreciated and you will be able to see the difference you’re making to patients lives.

Porter is also known as Patient Transport.

Role Characteristics

Transfer patients between various areas of the hospital
Ensure the safe movement of medical equipment
Transport clinical waste and dangerous materials
Deliver meals to patients
Distribute post to wards
Deliver patient notes

Skills

Empathy
Following instructions
Operating equipment
Team work
Customer service

Day in the life

Watch this video to find out more about being a Porter.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

Volunteering or work experience

Maths and English skills

Apply directly

GCSEs

How to become

There are no set entry requirements. Employers expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy. They may ask for qualifications such as GCSEs in English and maths.

Employers usually expect porters to have some relevant healthcare experience. This could be from voluntary or paid work in, for example, care work. Customer service skills are useful and some employers may ask for a driving licence.

It is important to check your preferred employer's entry requirements for guidance.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

With experience, you could move into a specialist Porter role with more responsibility and working in a particular department. You could become a Team Leader, supervising the work of other Porters. With further experience, you could become a Manager, responsible for Portering and other services.