Laboratory Support Worker (Cellular Pathology) | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in the UK is seeking two enthusiastic individuals to join their Histology Department. The permanent, full-time positions require candidates to prepare and process clinical specimens, maintain accurate records, and perform general laboratory duties. The department manages a significant number of complex Histology cases and operates on a 37.5-hour work week. Successful applicants will have the chance to contribute to high-quality services in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and processes clinical specimens for cellular pathology analysis.
• Maintains specimen records using paper and electronic systems.
• Maintains records and documentation as part of the laboratory's quality management system.
• Block scraping and filing in numerical order.
• Filing, archiving and retrieving of laboratory slides and blocks.
• Maintain laboratory equipment according to department procedures.
• Prepare and package material for dispatch to external providers.
• Prepare solutions and reagents.
• Housekeeping duties such as: discard specimens, wash buckets, bagging up specimens.

Job description

We are looking for 2 enthusiastic full time staff to fill a new and exciting role in our Histology Department.

The post is permanent. Hours are 37.5 per week.

Previous applicants need not apply.

The department handles over 53,000 Histology samples per annum, with a high proportion of complex cases including Breast, Head and Neck, Hepatobiliary and Urology.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and processes clinical specimens for cellular pathology analysis
• Maintains specimen records using paper and electronic systems
• Maintains records and documentation as part of the laboratory's quality management system
• Block scraping and filing in numerical order
• Filing, archiving and retrieving of laboratory slides and blocks
• Maintain laboratory equipment according to department procedures (e.g. tissue processor, staining machine)
• Prepare and package material for dispatch to external providers
• Prepare solutions and reagents (e.g. staining solutions, buffers)
• Housekeeping duties such as: discard specimens, wash buckets, bagging up specimens

Employer

East Lancashire Hospitals Trust provides high quality services to over 700,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. The Pathology services for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will come together to form the Lancashire and South Cumbria Single Pathology Service on 1 February 2026. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be the Lead Provider of the service and the employer of colleagues working within the service, across sites.

Employment Transfer

If you are successful in your application and commence work prior to 1 February 2026, your employment will transfer to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 1 February 2026 under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, 2006. There will be no impact for your job role, terms and conditions of employment or location of work.

If you are successful in your application and commence work after 1 February 2026, your employer will be Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

This advert closes on Monday 22 December 2025.