Michelle Hurst

I have many years of experience working for different individuals. Each one has brought their own challenges but none more so than working in the NHS in the last few years during the Covid pandemic. This was an exceptional time for many people but more so for people working in the NHS.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I found myself in unknown territory, on my own in a very busy office due to other secretarial staff having to take time off to 'shield'. I was on my own running the office for 3 months, ensuring that the day to day administration duties were adhered to. Letters typed, clinics cancelled/reduced where necessary, patients contacted daily to ensure they knew where to come for appointments and the health and safety aspects of attending the hospital.

During this time, I also took a lot of phone calls from worried patients and members of the public. Each one of these calls had to be dealt with compassionately and professionally. I also had to field calls from different media outlets and divert them to the appropriate department.

I ensured that the consultants working were given lunch when they came back to the office. This was provided by the Trust and collected by me every day as the doctors didn't have time. It ensured that no matter what time they came back to the office there would be sandwiches, snacks and drinks waiting for them.

I have found that over the past few years, I have surprised myself at how resilient I am. How well I can cope under extreme pressure and still maintain an air of professionalism. I take pride in my work and strive to be the best in what I do.

I am not afraid of learning new things or pushing myself into the unknown. I look forward to new challenges and learning new things.

Owner and mobile ear wax removal specialist - Ear Oasis Ltd

(2026-04)

Ear health check and earwax removal in the comfort of your own home. During covid it was impossible to get an appointment for ear wax removal and therefore I took over cleaning my husband's ears as he has problems with wax build up and required this doing every 3 months. I also started doing other family members ears.

In February 2026, after leaving the NHS, I decided to enroll on a ear wax removal course and gain a qualification to enable me to start my own ear wax removal business. I trained as a ear wax removal specialist in March 2026 and opened my own business on 08 April 2026. I am trained in both microsuction and water irrigation removal techniques.

I jumped in with both feet and created my own brand, purchased branded items such as pens, bags, keyrings, magnets and started making my own logo bugs carrying my label. I also have a website advertising my company at earoasis.co.uk

Senior Medical Secretary (Band 4) to 3 Consultants, Long Covid Secretary and DNA/Out of Care Secretary - Royal Victoria Infirmary - The Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine

(2011-12 - 2026-02)

Reason for leaving: Redundancy

• Ensuring clinic letters are typed within the Trust 5 day turnaround guidelines (15 clinics per month) audio typing
• Typing medical reports
• Ensuring medical records are available for all clinics and are up to date
• Receiving and making telephone calls to patients/GP's/internal and external partners
• Responding to emails internally and externally
• Booking/cancelling appointments/clinics as and when required
• Triage of external/internal referrals ensuring any urgent referrals are dealt with quickly
• Point of contact for Covid/Long covid queries/referrals and appointments
• Point of contact for persistent HIV DNA/Out of care patients, which involves contacting patients to find out why they didn't attend either by phone, letter or email (where appropriate) and ensuring that they are not lost in the system
• Ensuring that Rota's are up to date for Hepatitis Clinics, Long Covid Clinics and there is adequate cover from doctors
• Calls from patients regarding none delivery/run out of medication, ensuring that these are dealt with urgently and medications is prescribed for collection or delivery on that day
• Scanning relevant documentation into patient e-records
• Consultant diary management
• Arranging Teams and face to face meetings for consultants/external contacts
• Any other ad hoc secretarial/admin duties

Medical Secretary to Consultant Diabetologist, Medical Secretary to Diabetes Specialist Nurses/Dieticians, DESMOND Project Local Coordinator - Newcastle Diabetes Centre - Newcastle General Hospital

(1997-12 - 2011-12)

Reason for leaving: Offered position in Infectious Diseases due to restructuring of admin team

• Audio and copy typing clinic letters, medical reports
• Ensuring patient paper files are kept up to date and in correct order
• Taking calls from GP/patient/reps/ DVLA and other organisations, passing on messages where appropriate
• Booking appointments
• Organising and attending meetings such as Diabetes Awareness Days, Diabetes Network meetings
• Preparing and distributing agendas
• Attending meetings to take minutes
• Consultant diary management
• Any other ad hoc secretarial duties

Secretary to 3 consultants in Child Psychiatry - Kelly Services (Agency) - Young People's Unit, Newcastle General Hospital - Newcastle upon Tyne

(1996-01 - 1997-12)

Maternity Cover

• Copy and audio typing of clinical reports, letters, memos
• Booking patient appointment by telephone and face to face
• Reception duties
• Collating new patient files
• Ensuring documents filed correctly in notes
• Chasing results

PA to Property Controller - North Eastern Co-op - Gateshead

(1996-01 - 1996-12)

Maternity Cover

• Copy and audio typing letter, monthly reports and agenda's
• Dealing with telephone queries
• Photocopying, faxing and general office administration

PA to Director General - The Association of International Accountants - Team Valley, Gateshead

(1995-01 - 1996-12)

Reason for leaving: Redundancy

• Copy typing letter, legal documents
• Database entry
• General office administration

NVQ Business Administration - Business Administration - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

RSA II pt I Typing - Typing - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

RSA II pt I Word Processing - Word Processing - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

RSA III pt I Word Processing - Word Processing - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

RSA I Audio Transcription - Audio Transcription - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

Teeline Shorthand (40wpm) - Shorthand - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

Information Technology (CLAIT) - Information Technology - Broadway Centre, Gateshead College (1994-01 - 1995-12)

HEFC English Language - English Language - Gateshead College, Durham Road, Gateshead (1999-01 - 1999-07)

Gateway to the Internet Level 2 - Internet - Gateshead College, Durham Road, Gateshead (2001-01 - 2001-02)