Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 05 May 2025

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic individual looking to work as part of a busy Cellular Pathology team? Then look no further!

The role is not for the faint hearted and no two days look the same. It is a very physical role, that will keep you fit. This is a mixed role carrying out laboratory and clerical duties. These may include assisting Pathologists at cut up, retrieving material for MDTs and preparing MDT documentation, filing and general housekeeping duties supporting the team.

You may be required to work in all areas of Cellular Pathology. You must be able to use Microsoft Office applications.

Main duties of the job

You will undertake a range of Pre Analytic duties for the Pathology Department which may include patient and specimen reception, printing/despatch of reports, mail preparation and telephone enquiries.

You will also be responsible for sample processing including the receipt, labelling and preparation of specimens for the departments of Pathology.

You will need good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team are required. Please ensure you comply with the personal specification.

About us

We have 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.

Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You'll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you'd never have done. You'll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.

You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

438-PB2845

Job locations

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 9HT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties will include, but not be limited to:

  • Communicate effectively with clinical staff, laboratory staff and external clients regarding advice/clarification of test requests in a professional and approachable manner.
  • Answer the telephone in a clear and concise manner ensuring all results given & received are logged.
  • Assist in effective verbal and written communication
  • Communicate, as appropriate, using information technology.
  • Order stock from Main Stores to maintain adequate supplies of stock items.
  • Supply stock to Wards/Departments and GP practices as requested in a timely manner.
  • Receive delivery of supplies for other Departments and notify of arrival.
  • Report any issues and complaints to appropriate person
  • Report on delivery of goods & services
  • Record date and time & sort all relevant specimens coming into Pathology.
  • Check that the correct specimen, collected under appropriate conditions has been supplied for investigations requested.
  • Ensure urgent samples fast tracked through system
  • Check sample and request form meet minimum data set requirements.
  • Use computer accurately to input patient demographics using the laboratory CPR system.
  • Learn and retain a good knowledge of Consultant/GP/Location and test codes.
  • Correctly label samples with computer generated labels.
  • Uses PC to find requested result enquiry information using agreed formats and procedures.
  • Correctly and safely prepare, use and disinfect equipment e.g. centrifuge.
  • Perform day to day maintenance & load, unload and top up of the consumables on analysers as appropriate
  • Identify problems on mechanical systems, perform simple repairs, notify appropriate individual or call engineer if necessary.
  • Sort printed reports, file and despatch to correct location
  • Ensure report printers are constantly supplied with report paper.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties will include, but not be limited to:

  • Communicate effectively with clinical staff, laboratory staff and external clients regarding advice/clarification of test requests in a professional and approachable manner.
  • Answer the telephone in a clear and concise manner ensuring all results given & received are logged.
  • Assist in effective verbal and written communication
  • Communicate, as appropriate, using information technology.
  • Order stock from Main Stores to maintain adequate supplies of stock items.
  • Supply stock to Wards/Departments and GP practices as requested in a timely manner.
  • Receive delivery of supplies for other Departments and notify of arrival.
  • Report any issues and complaints to appropriate person
  • Report on delivery of goods & services
  • Record date and time & sort all relevant specimens coming into Pathology.
  • Check that the correct specimen, collected under appropriate conditions has been supplied for investigations requested.
  • Ensure urgent samples fast tracked through system
  • Check sample and request form meet minimum data set requirements.
  • Use computer accurately to input patient demographics using the laboratory CPR system.
  • Learn and retain a good knowledge of Consultant/GP/Location and test codes.
  • Correctly label samples with computer generated labels.
  • Uses PC to find requested result enquiry information using agreed formats and procedures.
  • Correctly and safely prepare, use and disinfect equipment e.g. centrifuge.
  • Perform day to day maintenance & load, unload and top up of the consumables on analysers as appropriate
  • Identify problems on mechanical systems, perform simple repairs, notify appropriate individual or call engineer if necessary.
  • Sort printed reports, file and despatch to correct location
  • Ensure report printers are constantly supplied with report paper.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Education

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE standard, or equivalent to grade C in Maths English and Science

Desirable

  • NVQ2 Clinical Support

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with others
  • General appreciation of the importance of Health & Safety issues
  • Computer literate
  • Understands the need for confidentiality
  • Basic IT skills
  • Excellent written English language skills with ability to take notes during dictation
  • Archiving / filing skills in an alphanumeric format

Desirable

  • Previous Data Input experience
  • Previous Cellular Pathology experience
Person Specification

Qualifications and Education

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE standard, or equivalent to grade C in Maths English and Science

Desirable

  • NVQ2 Clinical Support

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with others
  • General appreciation of the importance of Health & Safety issues
  • Computer literate
  • Understands the need for confidentiality
  • Basic IT skills
  • Excellent written English language skills with ability to take notes during dictation
  • Archiving / filing skills in an alphanumeric format

Desirable

  • Previous Data Input experience
  • Previous Cellular Pathology experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 9HT


Employer's website

https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 9HT


Employer's website

https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Biomedical Scientist

Carron Wilson

Carron.wilson@lthtr.nhs.uk

01772523108

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

438-PB2845

Job locations

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 9HT


Supporting documents

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