Associate Practitioner

at  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

To support the diagnostic histopathology and molecular pathology service including delivery of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) service. As an associate practitioner the post holder will be expected to support the biomedical scientists and consultant histopathologists in delivering the clinical Cellular Pathology service which is a national referral centre for sarcoma. The aim is to develop personalised care for patients with cancer.
The successful candidate will be required to provide support to biomedical scientists by performing a range of routine laboratory tasks including booking in samples, assisting in dissection, microtomy, scanning slides for digital pathology and cutting frozen tissue sections for WGS.
The post holder will be required to conform to agreed Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), policies, good laboratory practice and with the standards as required of ISO 15189:2012.
The department processes approximately 8000 surgical requests per annum, resulting in over 30,000 tests that include immunocytochemistry, molecular and special stains. The majority of specimens consist of bone and soft tissue tumours. There is also a relatively small amount of general orthopaedic histopathology. The laboratory provides both the RNOHT and University College London Hospital Trust (UCLHT) with a diagnostic service, also providing histopathology for the London Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Unit.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
To participate in sample receipt and handling of specimens, following sample handling guidelines
To accurately input patient demographics onto the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
To assist the histopathologist or senior BMS in the dissection of gross specimens
To assist in the freezing of tissue for the tissue bank
To process tissue specimens in the laboratory through the use of processing machines, embedding, microtomy and staining
To digitally x-ray a variety of specimens to accurately identify the ‘end-point’ of decalcification under the supervision of the BMS in charge
To embed processed surgical material ensuring correct orientation
Microtomy of frozen tissue to produce high quality tissue sections for microscopic analysis
Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining – manual and automated methodologies
To ensure the work produced within the department is of a consistently high standard and record its execution on the computer system
To prepare staining solutions and reagents according to SOPs
To handle chemicals and biological material in accordance with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and departmental protocols
Tissue block and microscopic slide filing and retrieval
To scan slides in Leica digital scanner
To take delivery of consumables as required
To monitor stock levels of chemicals and consumables and provide senior BMS staff information for ordering
To undertake safe disposal of laboratory waste such as histopathology samples including human tissue and body fluids
To occasional lift objects weighting over 15kg with no mechanical help
To add and remove samples from the tissue bank and record entry onto the frozen tissue database
Freezing, processing and storing of blood samples and record samples accurately on Procuro software
To participate regularly in Research and Development activities within the department
To participate in laboratory meetings
To attend mandatory training
To assist in improving departmental quality through audit and revision of practices based on findings
To train less experience staff
To work in accordance with all relevant SOPs
To work on own initiative but bringing issues to BMS staff and senior managers
To abide by the quality control measures as set out in the departmental SOPs
To adhere to Trust policies and procedures relevant to your position
To perform and be accountable for all duties under supervision of qualified BMS staff, as directed by senior staff
Any other duties commensurate with the grad

Please refer the Job description for details