Porter
The portering services team is an essential part of NHSScotland. Together, they co-ordinate portering activities within a healthcare setting. They make sure that patients, materials and equipment are safely and appropriately managed.
Porters work throughout the hospital and the estates. They are responsible for moving and transporting people and items to the intended destination. They have specialist knowledge of waste management and infection control.
Starting your career
Choosing subjects at school
To become a porter, you need a good standard of education. There are no entry requirements, but useful subjects include:
- English
- Maths
- Administration and IT
Work placement
If you’re at school or thinking of changing career, doing a work placement could help you when applying to college, university or for a job in healthcare. You’ll learn new skills, improve your knowledge and discover what it’s like to work in the health service. Find out how to apply for work experience with the NHS.
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a good way to start your career in healthcare.
Modern Apprenticeships
If you are interested in working in a non-clinical healthcare support role, there is the Modern Apprenticeship in Healthcare Support (non-clinical).
Other relevant Modern Apprenticeships include:
Find out more about apprenticeships at apprenticeships.scot.
The role
You will be responsible for making sure that everything is in the right place at the right time. You may need to transport patients between departments or move equipment around the hospital.
What you’ll do
Your main tasks include:
- helping nurses move a patient to a trolley or into a wheelchair
- taking samples to the labs or meals to the wards
- taking linen and equipment to the wards
- moving furniture or removing refuse, including clinical waste
- moving patients or equipment around the hospital by way of lifts or long corridors
- transporting deceased patients from the ward to the mortuary
You may be expected to work outside. This may mean tidying outdoor areas or gritting in cold weather.
You may also be expected to drive an NHSScotland vehicle around the hospital or estate grounds.
Top skills
You’ll need these skills:
- caring for people
- communicating with people
- listening skills
- persuasion skills
- problem-solving skills
- relationship-building skills
Who you’ll work with
You could work with:
- healthcare assistants
- visitors
- contractors
- housekeepers
- security staff
- nurses
- operating department practitioners
Working environment
You could work in:
- acute hospitals
- community hospitals
- community treatment centres
- residential or care homes
Useful information
To work as a porter in NHSScotland, you’ll need to:
- complete occupational health checks
- have a full valid driving license if you are driving an NHSScotland vehicles
- join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
Learning and development
You will be encouraged to develop your career in NHSScotland and will be given training such as:
- an introduction to the department and its procedures
- health and safety
- risk management
- the facilities services workbook provided by Health Facilities Scotland (HFS)
You may also have the chance to study for additional qualifications, including:
- SVQ Facilities Management at SCQF Level 7
- IOSH Health & Safety awarded by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Gaining these new qualifications and others will help your career prosper. You’ll be able to apply to more senior roles, and progress to portering supervisor or support services manager. With the appropriate qualifications and experience, you could move into other areas like estates management.