Medical Laboratory Assistant

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Wakefield seeks a motivated individual for a full-time role in the Blood Sciences Specimen Reception. Responsibilities include receiving and sorting pathology specimens, ensuring correct labelling, and using the laboratory information system. The position requires strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure. This role offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to healthcare in a supportive and diverse environment, with benefits such as the NHS pension plan and health services.

Benefits

NHS pension plan

Holiday allowance

Employee health and wellbeing services

Onsite nurseries

Childcare vouchers

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Good computer literacy and ability to use a Laboratory information system.
• Ability to follow instructions and work under pressure.
• Willingness to undertake training to fulfil competency documents.

Responsibilities

• Receive pathology specimens courteously from staff and patients.
• Sort and distribute patient samples to relevant departments.
• Identify samples requiring urgent analysis.
• Ensure samples and request forms are correctly labelled.
• Input patient data and order tests using the laboratory information system.
• Follow departmental standard operating procedures.

Skills

Verbal communication skills

Written communication skills

Computer literacy

Good manual dexterity

Tools

Laboratory information system

Job description

Overview

The Blood Sciences Specimen Reception department at The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust is seeking a motivated and practical individual to join our team. This is a permanent position working primarily at Pinderfields Hospital, in the blood sciences laboratory. The vacancy is a full time (37.5 hours per week). The department operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week and the successful candidate will be required to work a variety of shifts including day, late, overnight, weekend and bank holiday shifts. The blood sciences laboratory processes patient samples from the emergency department, hospital wards and outpatient departments at Pinderfields Hospital plus patient samples from GP surgeries in the surrounding area. Specimen Reception is where the patient samples enter the laboratory. They are then prioritised and processed before analysis by the departments of Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion and Haematology.

Responsibilities

• Receive pathology specimens from hospital staff and patients in a courteous and helpful manner.
• Sort patient samples and distribute to relevant departments.
• Identify samples requiring urgent analysis.
• Ensure samples and the appropriate request forms are correctly labelled and that the correct container has been used.
• Label request forms and specimens with laboratory numbers as required.
• Use of laboratory information system to input patient data and order analytical tests.
• Undertake the necessary training to fulfil the requirements of the required competency documents.
• Liaise with other laboratory and hospital staff to pass on information and solve problems that have arisen.
• Follow departmental standard operating procedures.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Good computer literacy and ability to use a Laboratory information system to input patient data and order tests.
• Ability to follow instructions, work under pressure and demonstrate good manual dexterity.
• Willingness to undertake training to fulfil competency documents and use GLP pre-analytical track system.
• Experience with IT systems and laboratory processes is advantageous.

Additional Information

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff members work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values to deliver an excellent patient experience. Our team is friendly and dedicated, and we support work-life balance and a diverse, inclusive environment. As a member of the team, you will have access to the NHS pension plan, holiday allowance, employee health and wellbeing services and benefits including onsite nurseries, childcare vouchers, and care-related policies. If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.