Medical Laboratory Assistant

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Colchester is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join the specimen reception team in the Blood Sciences Pathology Department. You will handle receipt, numbering, data entry and pre-analytics processing, feeding specimens to other specialties.

Flex shifts across evenings, weekends, and nights are essential. Training is provided; knowledge of pathology is advantageous.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent required.
• Demonstrable knowledge of routine healthcare science duties equivalent to NVQ3/diploma.
• Willingness to undertake cross training to extend skill set.

Responsibilities

• Receive samples, numbering and data entry onto the system.
• Identify, action and report mislabelled or mislaid specimens.
• Participate in day-to-day stock control and usage.
• Support technical staff across a 24-hour shift schedule.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Supervise less experienced staff

Willingness to cross train

Education

GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent

NVQ level 3 / diploma in Healthcare Science

Tools

Pathology IT systems

Quality Management Systems

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 18 October 2026

This post is fixed term until 26th July 2027.

We are looking for a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our specimen reception team in the Blood Sciences Pathology Department at Colchester Hospital

This role is based in our pathology labs and you will work with the team and be responsible for receipt and pre-analytics processing of pathology samples which are then passes on to our other specialities.

You will be required to work a variety of shifts over a 24 hour period to help support the technical staff to maintain a safe and effective service. Flexible shift working including evenings, weekends and nights is essential for this role.

We are looking for a Healthcare professional who can understand the changing services of pathology and represent the new service going forward.

Training will be provided however knowledge of pathology would be advantageous.

Please note we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post.

For this fixed term post, internal applicants currently employed by ESNEFT will be offered on a secondment basis only

Interview date: 26th October 2026

About our Pathology Service

Main duties of the job

Our vision is to deliver innovations and high-performing pathology services that are focussed on our customers whilst delivering high quality and fully compliant services.We are clinically led and designed to achieve the benefits of scale that can be achieved by working together, while remaining close enough to our customers to meet their needs and support the excellent clinical care provided by our hospitals.

Responsible for sample receipt, numbering and data entry on to the computer system.

Identify, action and report mislabelled or mislaid specimens, unsuitable sample or process failure.

Participate in the day to day management of stock control and usage.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff.

• We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
• generous pension scheme
• unsocial hours payments (where applicable)
• 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata)
• access to a range of NHS discounts.
• Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Education

• GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrable knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties equivalent to an NVQ level 3/diploma
• Practical experience of working in a Biomedical Science laboratory
• Knowledge of Pathology IT systems
• Knowledge of Quality Management Systems
• Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS

Skills and Aptitude

• Willingness to undertake cross training to extend skill set to deliver role
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team.
• Ability to supervise less experienced staff, e.g. can demonstrate own work.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£25,760 to £27,476 a yearper annum pro rata