Medical Laboratory Assistant - Sample Reception

Portsmouth-Hospitals-University-Nhs-Trust-2; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site Nursery

Beach Hut access

Wellness Centre with gym & pool

Staff networks: LGBTQ, Race Equality &

Job summary

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust is seeking a motivated Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) to support the Blood Sciences laboratory. The role focuses on sample reception, data entry, and maintaining quality and safety standards in a patient‑facing healthcare setting.

The position offers full-time and part-time hours, with shifts typically 7.5 hours between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, and a pro rata salary band 2 of £25,272 per annum.

Qualifications

• Customer service and teamwork skills are essential.
• Experience with electronic data handling and accurate keyboard data entry.
• Any prior laboratory or administrative experience is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Receive patient samples and forms per procedures.
• Enter requests and data into laboratory information systems.
• Monitor and maintain lab equipment.
• Perform basic lab techniques and assist with analyser maintenance.
• Manage consumables and deliveries.
• Handle samples safely from storage to disposal.
• Answer inquiries professionally.
• Maintain records and documentation on time.
• Support lab team to deliver efficient service.
• Follow health and safety and waste procedures.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Data entry

Keyboard skills

Administrative experience

Education

Science GCSE (desirable)

Science or keyboard qualification

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Sample Reception

• Full-time
• Weekly Hours / Programmed Activities: 37.5
• Salary Band: Band 2
• Staff Group: Additional Clinical Services
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Job Area: Scientists

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Band 2: £25,272 pro rata per annum.

Hours: Full time and Part time available.

Contract: Permanent.

Do you have great customer service skills and willing to go the extra mile? Are you friendly and able to work as part of a team? If the answer is yes, then we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for a motivated and organised Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) to support our busy Blood Sciences laboratory. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong administrative and data-entry skills who enjoys working in a healthcare environment and wants to play a vital role in patient care. Our unit operates between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Each shift is typically 7.5 hours, and while we usually have set schedules, there may be opportunities to work a variety of hours to keep things flexible and meet the needs of the team.

As an MLA, you will be responsible for receiving and processing patient samples, maintaining laboratory records, supporting laboratory operations, and ensuring high standards of quality, safety, and customer service.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Receiving patient samples and request forms in line with laboratory procedures.
• Entering patient requests and data accurately into laboratory information systems.
• Monitoring and maintaining laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers.
• Performing basic laboratory techniques and supporting analyser maintenance and reagent preparation.
• Managing laboratory consumables and processing deliveries.
• Storing, retrieving, and disposing of samples safely and correctly.
• Responding to telephone and face-to-face enquiries professionally and courteously.
• Filing, scanning, and maintaining laboratory records.
• Completing laboratory documentation accurately and on time.
• Supporting the laboratory team in delivering an efficient and effective service.
• Following all health and safety, infection control, and waste disposal procedures.
• Maintaining Blood Sciences quality standards and participating in training and development activities.

Weekend and public holiday shifts are also included in this role and are worked on a rota basis.

All positions are afternoon/evening shift patterns

• Science GCSE desirable (grade A* to C or 4 to 9).
• Science or keyboard related qualification.

Experience

• Experience with electronic handling of data.
• Fluent and accurate keyboard skills.
• Previous laboratory or administrative experience.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.