Medical Laboratory Assistant, Specimen Reception

NHS; Chertsey; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in England is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join their team. Responsibilities include receiving and checking samples, entering patient data into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and assisting with administrative tasks. The ideal candidate should have GCSEs in Maths and English or an NVQ Level 2, alongside strong communication and organizational skills. This role promotes professional development, offering a competitive salary and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Continuous professional development

Staff health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Comfortable working as part of a team in an administrative role.
• Ability to work to targets and be well organized.
• Willing to undergo training to ensure relevant knowledge and skills.

Responsibilities

• Receive and check samples and request forms from service users.
• Number samples and forms with a unique identifier.
• Enter patient details onto the LIMS and retrieve patient history.
• Liaise with users regarding errors in patient and specimen identification.
• Check specimen details and report any issues.
• Assist in training new starters.

Skills

Team player

Good communication

Organizational skills

Education

GCSEs in Maths & English or NVQ Level 2

Tools

Enterprise Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

CSMS system

Job description

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Laboratory Assistant, Specimen Reception

The closing date is 07 January 2026

Collect incoming deliveries from pathology reception

Unpack, check and label gynaecological specimens

Perform specimen data entry tasks using the Enterprise Laboratory information management system (LIMS)

Work to clearly defined hourly productivity targets applicable to the job role

Assist in the HPV sorting room by checking and sorting request forms according to their recalls, pulling out histories, matching request forms and slides plus scanning documents into the DART database.

Perform other tasks such as locating request forms for investigations and doing data entry for rejects team

Main duties of the job

To receive and check samples and request forms reaching the laboratory from our service users

To number samples and forms with a unique identifier and place specimen containers in processing racks

To separate samples received in error for different departments when necessary

Entering patient details onto the Enterprise laboratory information management system(LIMS) and looking up + printing previous patient history on CSMS system

To liaise with users regarding errors in patient and specimen identification, returning of samples to the sender when appropriate, and recording errors

Maintenance of a high standard of work, checking specimen and request details, any non-conformity brought to the attention of a senior member of staff

To comply with the Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) health and safety procedures and laboratory codes of practise at all times and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures

To follow laboratory procedures as detailed in departmental standard operating procedures (SOP)

Assist in the HPV sorting room by checking and sorting request forms according to their recalls, pulling out histories, matching request forms and slides plus scanning documents into the DART database

Perform other tasks such as locating request forms for investigations and doing data entry for rejects team

To carry out duties within the Cytology Department as and when required by the Laboratory Manager

About us

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with our strong commitment to staff health and wellbeing. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

Please see the supporting links which you can find on the right-hand side of this job advert. There is guidance on how to make an application on NHS Jobs as well as more information about joining the ASPH Team

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

To receive and check samples and request forms reaching the laboratory from our service users

To number samples and forms with a unique identifier and place specimen containers in processing racks

To separate samples received in error for different departments when necessary

Entering patient details onto the Enterprise laboratory information management system(LIMS) and looking up + printing previous patient history on CSMS system

To liaise with users regarding errors in patient and specimen identification, returning of samples to the sender when appropriate, and recording errors

Maintenance of a high standard of work, checking specimen, any non-conformity brought to the attention of a senior member of staff

To comply with the Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) health and safety procedures and laboratory codes of practise at all times and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures

To follow laboratory procedures as detailed in departmental standard operating procedures (SOP)

Assist in the training of new starters

Assist in the HPV sorting room by checking and sorting request forms according to their recalls, pulling out histories, matching request forms and slides plus scanning documents into the DART database

Perform other tasks such as locating request forms for investigations and doing data entry for rejects team

To carry out duties within the Cytology Department as and when required by the Laboratory Manager

Person Specification

Ability

• GCSEs to include Maths & English or NVQ to Level 2
• Willing to undergo training to ensure relevant level of knowledge & skills for the role.

Experience

• Comfortable working as part of a team in an administrative job role.
• Ability to work to targets & be well organised / flexible.
• Team player, good communicator & motivated.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with all members of staff.

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.

Employer name

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£25,768 a year per annum inc. HCAS (pro rata - 37.5 hrs per week)