MLA - Specimen Reception (permanent)

HCA Healthcare UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Private Healthcare Insurance

Private pension contribution

Season Ticket Loan

Job summary

HCA Healthcare UK is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant – Specimen Reception in London. The role sits in the Central Specimen Reception, handling samples from receipt to processing and routing across the laboratory network.

You will work with Meditech and other lab systems, supporting fast turnaround times, quality, and patient care in a high-volume hub. The role offers training and a structured day shift pattern within a permanent contract.

Qualifications

• A-Level qualification, or equivalent, in a science related subject such as Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science or Health and Social Care.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and quality standards.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy environment.
• Clear communication skills and a professional, team focused approach.
• An interest in healthcare, diagnostics, laboratory services or scientific support work.

Responsibilities

• Receive, check and accurately book laboratory samples using Meditech.
• Prioritise and distribute specimens to the correct laboratory departments within required turnaround times.
• Prepare and package samples for referral to external laboratories.
• Respond to telephone enquiries and liaise with internal teams and external clients.
• Maintain a safe, clean working environment in line with laboratory health and safety and infection prevention procedures.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Team focused

Interest in healthcare

Education

A-Level or equivalent in science

Tools

Meditech

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant – Specimen Reception

London, HCA Laboratories – Shropshire House

Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Shifts between 8:00am and 8:30pm Monday to Friday

Permanent Contract

Salary: Competitive

If you have a science background and enjoy working in a fast paced, team focused environment, this could be the role for you. As part of our Central Specimen Reception team, you'll play a key role in the diagnostic pathway, ensuring samples are received, processed and routed accurately across our laboratory network.

Working in a central laboratory hub, you'll gain exposure to a wide range of diagnostic services while developing valuable experience in laboratory operations and healthcare science. Alongside structured training and regular day shifts, you'll build knowledge of laboratory systems, including Meditech, and develop strong organisational and problem solving skills within a high volume specialist laboratory environment.

As a Medical Laboratory Assistant, you'll work closely with laboratory teams, couriers and clinical colleagues to ensure specimens are handled safely, processed accurately and delivered within required timeframes, helping to support high quality patient care every day.

At HCA UK we care about what you care about. We care that you want to deliver the very best care. We care that you want a career you can be proud of. We care that you want working conditions that support your health and wellbeing. Let us care for you and your career, the same way you do for others.

What You’ll Do

• Receive, check and accurately book laboratory samples using Meditech.
• Prioritise and distribute specimens to the correct laboratory departments within required turnaround times.
• Prepare and package samples for referral to external laboratories.
• Respond to telephone enquiries and liaise with internal teams and external clients.
• Maintain a safe, clean working environment in line with laboratory health and safety and infection prevention procedures.

What You’ll Bring

• A-Level qualification, or equivalent, in a science related subject such as Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science or Health and Social Care.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and quality standards.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy environment.
• Clear communication skills and a professional, team focused approach.
• An interest in healthcare, diagnostics, laboratory services or scientific support work.

Why HCA UK?

Originally founded over 50 years ago by Dr Thomas Frist, HCA has gone on to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers. In the UK, we’re one of the largest providers of privately funded healthcare and have invested over 򣔀 million in the latest treatments, technology, techniques, medication and facilities. Being part of a large multisite, established healthcare group we can offer you unrivalled opportunities for career progression through internal and external courses, as well as working conditions that prioritise both your mental and physical wellbeing.

Benefits

We believe that by caring for our colleagues, we empower them to provide exceptional care for our patients. That’s why we offer a host of flexible benefits that reflect the invaluable contribution they make every day. As a Medical Laboratory Assistant – Specimen Reception you'll be eligible for:

• 25 days holiday each year (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with option to buy or sell leave to suit you
• Private Healthcare Insurance for treatment at our leading hospitals
• Private pension contribution which increases with length of service
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work scheme
• Group Life Assurance from day one
• Critical illness cover
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• Corporate staff discount for all facilities including Maternity packages at The Portland
• Comprehensive range of flexible health, protection and lifestyle benefits to suit you
• Discounts with over 800 major retailers

Culture and values

At HCA UK we believe exceptional care starts with our people. We celebrate the unique perspectives and different experiences each of us bring as we know that when you feel seen, heard and supported you can be at your best for our patients, and each other.

Our Mission Is Simple, Above All Else We’re Committed To The Care And Improvement Of Human Life, a Clear Statement That Extends To Both Our Patients And Colleagues. To Achieve This, We Live And Breathe Four Core Values

• Unique and Individual: We recognise and value everyone as unique and individual
• Kindness and compassion: We treat people with kindness and compassion
• Honesty, integrity and fairness: We act with absolute honesty, integrity and fairness
• Loyalty, respect and dignity: We trust and treat one another as valued members of the HCA UK family with loyalty, respect and dignity

Reasonable adjustments

We believe everyone should feel comfortable to bring their full self to work and be afforded the same opportunities. As a Disability Confident committed organisation, we’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements to suit your needs as well as offer reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, and in the workplace, to anyone that needs them.