Pathology specimen reception are looking for two new team members. We ensure every sample sent to pathology is checked, registered and labelled correctly before going into our laboratories for testing. We receive thousands of samples every day from wards, community sites and GP practices and work to exacting ISO standards for the safety of our patients.
Hospital workflow is steady throughout the day and GP bloods start arriving early afternoon, continuing into the evening. Our shift patterns match this workflow with more of us on in the afternoon and evening ensuring that every sample is processed by the laboratory the day it is taken. There will be bursts of activity as samples arrive from across East Sussex needing to be unpacked, followed by data entry before taking the samples into the labs. Pathology runs 365 days a year and our shifts reflect this.
The skills required for specimen reception are very much administration and not clinical or scientific but we do work very closely with our Biomedical Scientist colleagues in ensuring safe and correct management of patient samples. Attention to detail and computer skills are key. Our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is quite unlike any other Hospital system but these skills can be taught as part of our competency program so no prior clinical knowledge is required.
Specimen Reception Pathology Assistants support the work of the
laboratory and Biomedical Scientists (BMS) by carrying out
non-interpretative laboratory procedures. A significant part of this role is data entry using the laboratory computer system, correctly identify patient’s details and handling of samples of a potentially hazardous nature.
Typical duties are unpacking, sorting and booking in samples,
packing specimens to send away to referral laboratories, preparing
specimens for testing, performing simple analytical procedures and
some more general tasks of this nature.
If you are interested in joining out team please contact Lesley White or Jaygan Chyle for a chat and a look at the department.
lesley.white6@nhs.net
jaygan.chyle@nhs.net
We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work
We provide safe, compassionate and high quality care to half a million people living or visiting East Sussex. We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex, the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive services are provided by 7000 + members of staff working from acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites and in people’s own homes.
In 2020 the Care Quality Commission rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being caring and effective. The Conquest Hospital and our Community Services are rated ‘Outstanding’. Eastbourne DGH rated ‘Good’.
In 2020, the Trust launched its ambitious ‘Building for our Future’ programme. This once in a lifetime programme aims to repair, redevelop and expand our hospitals, transforming the environment in which we provide care for generations to come.
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us

Please refer the Job description for details