Medical Laboratory Assistant in Blood Sciences

NHS; Weston-super-Mare; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated Medical Laboratory Assistant to join its team at Weston General Hospital. This permanent role involves providing support in diagnostic Blood Sciences, working with advanced laboratory instruments and ensuring efficient sample processing. Candidates should have relevant qualifications like GCSEs and preferably hold a Biomedical Science degree. Join a team committed to delivering high-quality patient care in a vibrant environment in Weston-super-Mare.

Qualifications

• At least five GCSE's including English, Mathematics and Science.
• Level 3 Qualification in Science.
• Approved Biomedical Science degree.
• Work experience in a laboratory.
• Experience in a customer service role.
• Understanding of the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Supporting implementation of new automated instrumentation.
• Enabling smooth workflow of samples.
• Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing samples.
• Filing of samples after analysis.
• Retrieving consumables and reagents.

Skills

Ability to learn and use PC laboratory software packages after training

Ability to organise own work

Ability to prioritise work as required

Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines

Education

At least five GCSE's grade C or above including English, mathematics and science

Level 3 Qualification in Science

Approved Biomedical Science degree

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Medical Laboratory Assistant in Blood Sciences

The closing date is 09 February 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Laboratory Medicine at Weston General. This is a post for a permanent Medical Laboratory Assistant at the Weston General Hospital Pathology site within UHBW.

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, Clerical staff and Medical staff.

The post holder will be an important part of the Laboratory Medicine team, supporting implementation of the new laboratory instrumentation. They will work primarily in the automated laboratory within Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Clinical Biochemistry, assisting with sample workflow.

The post holder will be required to work routine, early, late, weekend and bank holiday shifts in order to support the routine and out of hours service. This will be part of a rota within the working team.

The post holder will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients within the hospital by providing technical and data entry assistance to Departmental staff.

The post holder will perform a number of healthcare science technical activities including maintaining new equipment, supporting verification of instruments, and generally assisting colleagues where necessary.

Main duties of the job

• Supporting the implementation of new automated instrumentation as directed by Biomedical Scientists.
• Enabling the smooth workflow of samples between pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical processes. Including use of various automated analysers and automated storage equipment.
• Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing of samples in a busy environment while maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and service users.
• Filing of samples following completion of analysis into the appropriate storage systems.
• Retrieval of consumables and reagents from the stores, advising the senior BMS when the stock becomes low.
• Use of laboratory information management systems.
• Use of software packages including word processing, spreadsheets and databases to enter data on a daily basis.
• Use of e-mail to send authorised documents within Blood Sciences.
• Use of the document management system (Q-Pulse).
• 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.

About us

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.

Job responsibilities

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

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• At least five GCSE's grade C or above to include English, mathematics and science
• Level 3 Qualification in Science
• Approved Biomedical Science degree

Knowledge and Experience

• Work experience in a laboratory
• Experience in a customer service role
• Understanding of the NHS

Skills and Abilities

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

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.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)