Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception

NHS; Wigan; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Wigan seeks a Medical Laboratory Assistant to support Blood Sciences in various tasks including data entry and maintenance of lab equipment. The role requires careful work and strong communication skills. An NVQ level 3 qualification is preferable. The position involves working flexible shifts including evenings and weekends. Competitive benefits package offered.

Benefits

Annual leave allowance

Flexible working opportunities

Protected hours for health and wellbeing activities

Qualifications

• Conscientious and capable of careful and accurate work.
• Good numeracy and literacy skills are required.
• Lab experience preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Enter patient data into the Pathology IT system.
• Daily maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Maintain laboratory archive systems.

Skills

Customer care

Data entry skills

Basic IT / typing skills

Education

GCSE level in English, Maths and Science

NVQ level 3 qualification in Laboratory support

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception

Go back Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 02 October 2025

PAWS has been formed from the merger of Pathology Services at Salford Royal Hospital and Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh Hospitals.

The post is based at Wigan, but you may be required to work at other sites.

Medical Laboratory Assistants in Specimen Reception are required to provide support to Blood Sciences and other departments in Pathology. The duties are varied and include entering patient data into the laboratory IT system, assisting with the laboratory handling of most types of specimens and help with some analytical processes and perform general clerical work.

It is important to note that you will be required to work late shifts, weekend shifts and nights on a rota basis.

Posts available are 22.5hrs per week worked over 3 set days, covering early, day and late shifts, or an average 22.5hrs per week worked over a 4 week rota including 1730-2200 weekdays, 1400-2200 weekends and night shifts.

Main duties of the job

The main duty for this role is entering patient data into the Pathology IT system. Other tasks include daily maintenance of laboratory equipment, maintaining laboratory archive systems, and general housekeeping tasks. There is a requirement to be able to lift heavy objects such as boxes and waste and to be able to push trolleys.

We require someone who is conscientious and capable of careful and accurate work with excellent customer care and communication skills. Good and accurate data entry skills are also required along with basic standards of numeracy and literacy. Previous laboratory experience may be an advantage but is not essential.

Unfortunately, this role does not meet the criteria required to qualify for sponsorship

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Learn more about us in our Candidate Information Pack (opens in existing window)

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Basic level theoretical knowledge

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent in English, Maths and Science subjects. Basic numeracy and literacy skills
• NVQ level 3 qualification in Laboratory support

Skills & Abilities

• Basic IT / typing skills

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.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust