Medical Laboratory Assistant-Cellular Pathology

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in High Wycombe is seeking a dedicated Medical Laboratory Assistant (Cellular Pathology) to join the team. You will contribute to the rota, assist with slide preparation, digital pathology scanning, and data entry to support Pathologists and MDT meetings.

The role requires teamwork, accuracy, and adherence to procedures, with training provided. The post is full-time on a 37.5-hour week, with potential flexible working discussions and NHS benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a laboratory environment.
• Ability to enter data accurately into computer systems with attention to detail.
• Ability to file in alphabetic and numerical order and follow SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Receive fresh and formalin fixed specimens and handle high-risk materials safely.
• Check information on requests and assign histopathology numbers.
• Enter specimen details into cellular pathology computer systems.
• Prepare cut up area for dissection by staff and ensure consumables are stocked.
• Support BMS and surgical cut up; print cassettes with correct details.
• Load/unload scanners in the digital pathology suite and ensure quality control of slides.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Data entry

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Teamwork

SOP adherence

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant-Cellular Pathology

Band 3

Main area Cellular Pathology Specialist Services Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Job share

37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday - no weekend working) Job ref 434-SCS8186214-A

Site Wycombe Hospital Town High Wycombe Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 07/10/2026 23:59

Be part of our BHT family

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.

We care for over half a million patients every year:

• Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
• Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
• Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
• Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.

More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.

We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.

If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [e-mail] or phone [phone].

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.

Job overview

Cellular pathology at Buckshealthcare NHS Trust, based at High Wycombe, is looking for a dedicated, competent, self-motivated, medical laboratory assistant (laboratory technician) to join our friendly team
This post requires someone who can working alongside colleagues to take part in laboratory rota for – cut up, monitoring main Lab, throw-out and scanning slide for Digital Pathology, assisting the Biomedical Sciences in the provision of an efficient, effective and comprehensive service for sample preparations.
In addition, this post may be required to participate in the retrieval of archived slides and data reports required to enable the Pathologists to attend specialty MDT’s (Multi-Disciplinary Team) meetings.
Training and competency will be provided by the laboratory proving laboratory competence.

Main duties of the job

• Receive fresh and formalin fixed specimens. Know the correct procedure for their safe handling including High Risk specimens.
• Check quality of information on both request form and specimen and assign a Histopathology surgical number.
• Enter details of the specimen onto the cellular pathology computer using the relevant codes.
• Prepare the cut up area for dissection of specimens by either medical or technical staff.
• Ensure there are adequate supplies of consumables.
• Assist at BMS and surgical cut up; enter details onto cellular pathology computer systems, printing the cassettes with the correct details and checking that the correct number is assigned to the specimen, request form and cassettes.
• To load and unload scanners in the digital pathology suite, slides are loaded onto either the Ultrafast scanner (UFS) or Glissandro scanner, depending on the type of slide used.
• Ensuring all slides are macroscopically Quality Checked before scanning, ensuring slides are clean, properly labelled and that the coverslip is not protruding from the edges of the slide.
• Being part of a team ensuring high quality service to all users.

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile workingopportunities,alongside your NHS benefits ofgenerous annual leave entitlement, pension andaccess toNHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity withinourBHT familyimprovespositive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [e-mail] quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience working in a laboratory environment.
• Previous experience of data input using a computer
• Experience working in a laboratory environment

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Able to enter data on the computer accurately with attention to detail
• Able to file in alphabetic and numerical order
• Able to work as part of a team
• Methodical approach to tasks with attention to detail
• Able to follow Standard Operating Procedures

Special Circumstances

• Ability to travel to other sites
• Ability to work flexibly, if required to cover other staff absences

PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.

Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.

Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.

Contacting you: We will contact candidates through the email address supplied on their application form. Please make sure you check this regularly.

Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.

Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.

Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.

Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.