Medical Laboratory Assistant - Blood Sciences

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated Medical Laboratory Assistant for their Blood Sciences team. The role involves sample processing, data entry, and assisting Biomedical Scientists, providing vital support for patient diagnosis and treatment. Candidates should possess laboratory experience and customer service skills, with a commitment to learning and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer service role.
• Previous laboratory work experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing samples in a busy environment.
• Specimen reception and checking labels against laboratory policy.
• Analysis of samples under supervision.

Skills

Ability to learn and use PC laboratory software packages

Ability to organise own work

Ability to work under pressure

Ability to prioritise work

Education

Work experience in a laboratory

Job description

This post is only open to internal applicants.

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Blood Sciences

Band 3

Main area Laboratory Medicine Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekend OOH and night shifts as required) Job ref 387-DT5075-DA

Site Bristol Royal Infirmary Town Bristol Salary £24,937 - £26,598 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 26/06/2025 23:59

As an organisation we recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

The Laboratory Medicine department has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our team. The post holder will be working within Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry and Specimen Reception. The post holder will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients within the hospital by providing technical, scientific and data entry assistance to the Biomedical Scientists and other Departmental staff. The post holder will take part in the shift rota which which includes weekend and night shifts.

The post holder will be part of a team providing a diagnostic Blood Sciences service to the Trust. The team comprises Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA), Biomedical Scientists, Associate Practitioners, Clinical Scientists, Healthcare Scientists, clerical staff and Medical staff. In addition, you will interact with other staff in the Directorate.

This job advert may close early if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been submitted.

Main duties of the job

• Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing of samples in a busy environment while maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and service users.
• Specimen reception – activation of requests and checking that request forms and specimens are labelled according to laboratory policy.
• Under supervision, analysis of samples received for testing.
• Storing of samples following completion of analysis into the appropriate storage system.
• Retrieval of consumables and reagents from the stores, advising the senior BMS when the stock becomes low.
• Use of laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Use of the laboratory consumables ordering system to ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are maintained.
• To observe all applicable safety regulations and attend any mandatory and statutory training as required.
• To undertake such training as necessary to enhance and to improve performance within the Department.
• To respond professionally to incoming telephone calls.
• To liaise regularly with section heads/seniors to ensure the smooth running of the sections.
• Order, receive and store consumables & general goods delivered to the laboratory.
• Other duties as directed by the Department Manager or technical staff

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in a customer service role
• Work experience in a laboratory

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to learn and use PC laboratory software packages after training
• Ability to organise own work
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Ability to prioritise work as required

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

· As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

· The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

· UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

· To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

· If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

· The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

· By applying for this post, you are agreeing to University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

· Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Carolyn Perry Job title Principal Biomedical Scientist & MLA Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0117 342 2291

If you have problems applying, contact

Address United Bristol Healthcare Trust
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Marlborough Street
Bristol
Success
BS2 8HW
Telephone [phone] (option 1)