261465 (GH) Assistant Practitioner

NHS National Services Scotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS LOTHIAN invites applications for an Assistant Practitioner to support digital pathology workflows across the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Western General Hospital.

This 12-month fixed term, full-time post (36 hours per week) will involve coordinating slide preparations from different lab areas to scanners and Pathologists, supporting clinical laboratory services, and working as part of a multidisciplinary team with a strong emphasis on accuracy and patient safety.

Qualifications

• Educated to SCQF level 8 (e.g. HND/SVQ4) or IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2.
• Personal Development Awards may be considered as equivalent.
• Experience with complex or highly sensitive equipment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate slide preparations from different Pathology lab areas to scanners and Pathologists.
• Support clinical and laboratory management to optimise internal pathway processes.
• Learn about and contribute to digital pathology processes and IT systems.

Skills

Attention to detail

Manual dexterity

Interpersonal skills

Adaptability

Professional attitude

Education

SCQF level 8 or equivalent

HND/SVQ4

IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2

Personal Development Awards

Job description

NHS LOTHIAN

Department of Pathology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Western General Hospital

Assistant Practitioner, Band 4 x 2 posts

12-months Fixed Term, Full time post 36 hours per week

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

Applications are invited for the above posts based in Pathology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, however there will be periods of working at the Western General Hospital site. These posts are for a Fixed Term 12-month period to support increased implementation of Digital Pathology processes within Histopathology.

The successful applicants will support clinical and laboratory management to optimise internal pathway processes e.g. co-ordinating slide preparations from different Pathology laboratory and office areas to the scanners and Pathologists to ensure that optimal cancer workload is efficiently digitally imaged.

The successful post holders will work with individuals with Digital Pathology interest such as laboratory management, Consultant, and resident doctors as well as an Edinburgh University Clinical Development Fellows, amongst other team members providing NHS Pathology services.

The successful applicants will learn about and contribute to providing comprehensive support to the clinical laboratory service, working effectively as a team member. Candidates should be adaptable, have good interpersonal skills and a professional attitude.

Candidates should also have previous experience of working with complex and highly sensitive equipment. Excellent attention to detail and manual dexterity is required for this post. An interest in digital and IT processes and use of new software is desirable.

Candidates should be educated to SCQF level 8 e.g. HND; or SVQ4; or IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2; Personal Development Awards. This is a full-time post.