Medical Laboratory Assistant

at  Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

The Cellular Pathology department based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro is looking to appoint a highly motivated & enthusiastic candidate to join the department as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Histopathology section.
The department received just under 38,000 histopathology requests in 2023, which includes samples from the 900 Coronial PMs performed. The department includes a modern immunocytochemistry / molecular biology unit & provides a Rapid On-site Evaluation (ROSE) service to the EBUS/EUS clinics. Where over 300 samples a year are processed, assessed & reported on-site.
As an Medical Laboratory Assistant you will work as part of a team, supporting the Consultant Pathologists and Biomedical Scientists in the processing of patient’s samples.
You will be required to have a professional attitude to work, work closely with staff at all levels and have an eye for detail and accuracy.
The position is full time 37.5hrs per week and a flexible attitude to working hours is necessary. Hours are within a framework of 08:00 and 17:00.
Provides basic clinical technical services to patients.
Provide technical laboratory support work.
Prepares and processes clinical specimens for diagnostic testing.
Accepts or rejects a clinical request by reference to the specimen acceptance policy (SAP).
Provides advice and demonstrates activities to new / inexperienced staff.
Applies departmental quality system to all aspects of the work.
Observe and apply the Directorate and Trust Health and Safety and Security policies
Deals with reception, telephone and email enquiries from users outside the department.
The post holder must at all times carry out duties with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy
It is the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff
It is the responsibility of the post holder to ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard, and in accordance with current quality initiatives within the area of work
All staff who have access to or transfer data are responsible for that data and must respect confidentiality and comply with the requirement of the Data Protection Act 1998, in line with the Trust’s policies
Sustainability is integral to the Trust achieving the NHS Net Zero target. All staff are therefore actively encouraged and supported to implement new ways of working within their field of expertise.
Previous Working knowledge of histology laboratory bench areas and reception, test repertoire and specimen containers.
Basic knowledge of medical laboratory science.
Knowledge of safety, including infectious diseases and dangerous chemicals.
Knowledge of laboratory & hospital computer systems.
A good standard of general education as demonstrated by GCSE in 4 subjects including Math’s, Science and English as a minimum
Good interpersonal skills, with ability to coordinate and direct others
Calm and logical under pressure and able to cope with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
Able to keep accurate and detailed records
Keyboard skills
Manual dexterity
Reception skills
Capable of frequent and extended periods of concentration.
Works accurately with good attention to detail.
Good verbal communications and telephone manner.
Exercises initiative in judgments involving straightforward job related facts and situations but applies the correct balance between using initiative and seeking direction & guidance
Able to recognise and prioritise urgent specimens.
Able to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately.
Motivated and a positive attitude to team work.
Ability to organise own work tasks and activities.
Able to work well in a team
Good hand / eye coordination where speed and accuracy are important.
Able to cope with daily exposure to unpleasant and malodorous specimens
Able to train less experienced staff
Good hand and eye co-ordination with the manual dexterity to be able to be trained to cut histology tissue sections
Able to assimilate new information and implement new / revised work procedures
Previous NHS laboratory experience
Reception and clerical experience
Knowledge of laboratory computer system.
Reception, clerical and keyboard experience.
Monitor consumable stock levels including updating, checking, storing, reporting and initial stock control.
Ordering stock and receipting goods received on a computer based system
Identify requests / reports which will lead to private bills being generated and to action these as directed.
Liaising with the Pathology Consultant and Clinical Scientific staff for the referral of pathological specimens, at all times being cognisant of the regulations governing such dispatch.
Distribution and dispatch of material (post, specimens, goods .5 etc) including referrals to other laboratories.
Specimen sorting, matching, labelling and distribution, including; prioritising urgent work, dealing with unsuitable specimens and implementing the departmental policy for rejecting specimens.
Data entry and IT systems.
Pre analytical specimen preparation and equipment loading, including fast track reception and preparation for analyses of an urgent nature.
Post analytical laboratory and clerical work.
Clerical tasks including filing and retrieval of request forms, laboratory reception and use of office equipment.
Performance of protocol (Standard Operating Procedure) determined, routine semi-automated & manual tests under BMS supervision.
Operation and maintenance of mechanised laboratory equipment, following operating protocols.
First line maintenance and fault finding on laboratory equipment.
Maintenance and quality checks of out station equipment (Point of care equipment on wards).
Technical laboratory support work (e.g. Weighing, measuring and making up reagents, specimen filing etc.)
Preparation, distribution and result transmission of quality assurance material.
To be aware of and adhere to the requirements, policies and procedures of the Quality Management System operating in Pathology.
To apply the Universal Precautions policy at all times.
Undertake appropriate mandatory training.
To work as part of a team providing technical laboratory support to the laboratories.
To ensure staff deal with all samples in a safe manner which takes into account local Health and Safety policies and which observes rules of confidentiality at all times.
Distribution and dispatch of material (post, specimens, goods etc)
Specimen unpacking, sorting, matching, labelling and distribution, including; prioritising urgent work, dealing with unsuitable specimens and implementing the departmental policy for rejecting specimens.
Patient and request data entry.
Specimen preparation, including fast track reception and preparation for tests of an urgent nature.
Post laboratory and clerical work, including the dispatch of reports.
Clerical tasks including filing and retrieval of request forms, laboratory reception and use of office equipment.
To be aware of and adhere to the requirements, policies and procedures of the Quality Management System operating in Pathology.
To apply the Universal Precautions policy at all times.
Undertake appropriate mandatory training.
To work in a safe manner, in accordance with the Trust and Laboratory safety policies, using Personal protective equipment and other control measures when required
To work safely with bio-hazardous materials adopting “Universal Precautions” as appropriate.
To work safely with corrosive, flammable and other hazardous chemicals
To use equipment in a safe and responsible manner
To attend annual mandatory security, safety, fire and manual handling training
To observe the immunisation policy of the laboratory
To report accidents and near misses according to the laboratory protocol
To observe departmental policies on Manual Handling procedures, Violence and Aggression, COSHH and general H&S.
General cleaning, disinfection and maintenance of laboratory work benches and some laboratory equipment.
To observe waste disposal protocols.
To observe departmental and Trust rules on security

Please refer the Job description for details