Receptionist

Adeola Talabi
Receptionist, joined the Trust in 2001

What is your role?

I joined the Trust as a general porter and now work as a receptionist at the Grosvenor Wing desk of St George’s Hospital, the main hospitals entrance.

I have also taken the NVQ Qualification in Support Services which has enabled me to cover other roles in the Trust in times of staff shortages.

What does a typical working day look like?

As you can imagine people arrive for appointments or visits all day long so we meet and greet the public, give them directions and advice and answer their questions.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I get real satisfaction out of the regular contact I have with visitors, patients and staff.

What level of patient contact do you have in your role?

Because we are a main contact point for patients and their visitors we have regular contact with them. I do try to have a good rapport with patients, particularly those that come in to the Trust on a regular basis – attending dialysis or frequent appointments.

Of course on occasion we do need to deal with complaints and try to do this in a professional and calm manner.

What other members of the healthcare team do you work with?

The healthcare team perhaps not so much, but I work closely to the transport, domestics, security and porter teams.

What do you like about working for the Trust?

I really like meeting and helping patients or visitors and at times they can be distressed. Even if I help just one person a day, it can make a real difference to their stay or visit and that is a wonderful experience.

I am also extremely proud that I was named as an ‘Unsung Hero’ for my rapport with patients and dedication to my job in the 2009 London Health and Social Care Awards.

Why did you join the NHS?

I joined the NHS because it is reliable and secure it gives me an opportunity to do what I enjoy most: to meet and help people.