Medical Laboratory Assistant / Healthcare Science Assistant

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the East Midlands is seeking a full-time Medical Laboratory Assistant / Healthcare Science Assistant to support a clinical technical service. This role involves working closely with Biomedical Scientists to process and test specimens, ensuring effective patient care. Prior laboratory experience is essential, alongside a commitment to teamwork and adherence to quality standards. The position offers development opportunities and various employee benefits, contributing to a dynamic healthcare environment.

Benefits

Development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Onsite fitness classes

Qualifications

• Previous experience in laboratories is essential.
• Ability to process various biological samples.
• Familiarity with microbiology procedures.

Responsibilities

• Support the Biomedical Scientists in patient care.
• Perform specimen reception tasks accurately.
• Prepare specimens for various testing methods.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a fixed term, full time position as a Medical Laboratory Assistant / Healthcare Science Assistant, as part of the ED Opt Out Project.

You will support the Biomedical Scientists and microbiology team in providing a clinical technical service to achieve efficient and effective patient care. Working as part of a team, to carry out the receipt, booking-in, processing and testing of specimens to provide a diagnostic microbiology service. Previous experience in laboratories is essential.

• To work in an effective and efficient way following the appropriate Trust and directorate policies, procedures and guidelines including the departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Prepares and processes patient specimens.
• Prepares blood samples for immunoassay testing.
• Prepares specimens for PCR testing.
• Prepares urine samples for microscopy.
• Inoculates patient specimen onto culture media for incubation.
• Selects single colonies and inoculates test cards for processing through the VITEK2 identification machine.
• Perform specimen reception tasks including entering accurately patient/specimen details onto the departmental computer system maintaining a valid database.
• Maintain and support the effective use of available resources (equipment and stock) in an efficient way.

Closing date of applications: 13 January 2026

Interview date: 27 January 2026

If you are considering applying for an internal secondment, please ensure you have discussed this with your line manager and obtained their support prior to submitting your application. Please be aware that there is no guarantee that you will be released from your substantive post, so you should seek approval before applying as you are applying or a Secondment.

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In Return We Will Offer

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&E across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Manjinder Khakh Job title: Technical Specialist Manager - Virology/ Serology Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 01332 788948