Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Poole; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join the Central Reception team across Poole Hospital and Royal Bournemouth Hospital. You will support Biomedical Scientists by handling data entry, sample processing and accurate result delivery, working within a 30-hour week on a shift pattern.

The role requires typing during the interview process, and the team emphasises concentration, accuracy and patient-focused service within the NHS.

Qualifications

• Data entry and handling of samples
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Typing test will be required at interview

Responsibilities

• Receive and process samples for testing
• Perform data entry and sample labelling
• Prepare specimens for analysis and dispatch to laboratories
• Support Biomedical Scientists and maintain central reception duties
• Work across Poole Hospital and Royal Bournemouth Hospital sites

Skills

Data entry

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Company:

Company: Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We are seeking well organised, highly motivated individuals to join our multidisciplinary team.

Applications are invited for the post of Medical Laboratory Assistant to work within the Central Reception Department at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust which will cover both sites at Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The departments include Biochemistry, Haematology and Transfusion and are all UKAS accredited.

Medical Laboratory Assistants work as part of a team supporting the Biomedical scientists. Medical Laboratory Assistants receive and process (data entry) samples prior to testing by Biomedical Scientists in the laboratories.

The successful candidate will be trained to deal with enquiries on the telephone, and to accurately provide authorised results to other healthcare professionals as required.

Hours are part time (30.0 hours per week) on a shift basis.

The laboratory operates 24/7 with core hours between 7am and 8pm, to include weekend and bank holiday working.

You will be required to undertake a typing test as part of the interview.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Medical Laboratory Assistants work as part of the team supporting the Biomedical Scientists. Biomedical Scientists analyse blood, body fluids, tissues and cells to determine the presence or absence of disease, to enable diagnosis and also to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. They also carry out tests and analyses, which enable population screening for inherited or malignant disorders.

After training MLAs will be required to carry out a range of laboratory procedures including to collect and separate samples from wards and from the phlebotomy service throughout the day, to receive, check, sort, uniquely identify, label and prepare for analysis including those specimens for clinical trials and to be responsible for the accurate and timely dispatch of samples to other laboratories for testing as required. These duties to be performed according to standard operating procedures and within daily deadlines.

Concentration, accuracy and attention to detail are essential to these processes and medical laboratory assistants will be expected to provide a helpful and professional service to patients and staff within the NHS.

The Central (Specimen) Reception services are based at both Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The post will involve working at both sites.

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They undermine everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

In some cases this means that a services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

Contact -Amanda Terry , Central Reception Team Leader

[e-mail] 0300 019 4796

This advert closes on Tuesday 6 Oct 2026

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust