Medical Laboratory Assistant

Barts Health Nhs Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK is seeking a part-time Band 3 Medical Laboratory Assistant for the Central Specimen Reception Department. This role requires participation in rotational shifts and involves routine laboratory tasks, data entry, and operating equipment. Candidates should have strong attention to detail, flexibility, and the ability to work under pressure. Previous laboratory experience is a plus. The position requires accuracy in following protocols and a commitment to providing excellent service.

Qualifications

• Experience in a laboratory setting is advantageous.
• Ability to follow written protocols accurately.
• Capable of working with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Participate in rotational shift pattern from Monday to Sunday.
• Undertake routine laboratory work and provide general assistance.
• Entry of patient details into laboratory information systems.
• Operate laboratory equipment and maintain quality control.

Skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work under pressure

Flexibility

Data entry accuracy

Job description

Position Overview

We are looking for a Band 3 Medical Laboratory Assistant for the Central Specimen Reception Department. This is a part‑time fixed‑term position (1x 0.4 WTE, 15 hours per week). The successful candidate will participate in a rotational shift pattern from Monday to Sunday, 16:00 – 20:00, and may work late, weekend and bank holiday shifts. The role will be based at Homerton Hospital and will require cross‑site working at any of the NHS Pathology Partnership sites. The laboratories are UKAS and HCPC accredited, and the post holder will receive full local training and written standard operating procedures.

The post holder will work as part of a team in Central Specimen Reception to undertake routine laboratory work and provide general laboratory assistance. Duties include entry of patient details and other data into laboratory information systems, operating laboratory equipment, maintaining and running checks, quality control and troubleshooting, preparation of reagents, pre‑analytical preparation of samples for testing, and general housekeeping duties. The post holder will offer a helpful and professional service to visitors and telephone callers.

We are looking for a candidate with a positive attitude to working in a flexible manner and the ability to work accurately under pressure to meet deadlines. The successful candidate should have a keen eye for detail and accuracy, the ability to follow written protocol and work with minimal supervision.

Organization Overview

The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms‑length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. It was formed in May 2021 and has since established a single network of laboratories, a unified Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and a single Quality Management System (QMS). The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories at the six other hospital sites.

Operational Divisions

• Blood Sciences, including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry
• Microbiology and Virology
• Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics

The 2024/25 total operating costs across the Partnership were approximately £121 million per annum with a workforce establishment of about 860 WTE. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.