Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant

NHS; Bath; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Join NHS as a Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant, playing a vital role in patient diagnosis and treatment. Ensure quick and accurate test results while working collaboratively with a dedicated team. Enjoy a fulfilling career in Bath with competitive pay, opportunities for growth, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Staff wellbeing programme

Career development opportunities

Comprehensive staff benefits package

Qualifications

• Previous NHS laboratory experience of at least 6 months full-time.
• Broad knowledge of sample requirements and pre-analytical processes.
• Experience supervising other staff.

Responsibilities

• Receive and sort blood samples for analysis.
• Check, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Communicate effectively with Biomedical Scientist staff.

Skills

Data entry

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Grade C/4 GCSE Maths and English

A Level/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in Science subject

Job description

Job summary

Do you have an eye for detail? Can you work to deadlines? Do you enjoy following instructions and patterns? Do you want to help patients get the right treatment as quickly as possible?

We are looking for a full time Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant to support enhanced access to NHS healthcare to work over a 7 day shift pattern within the hours of 08:00 - 22:00, including weekends and bank holidays on a rota.

Quick and accurate test result from the laboratory play a vital role in diagnosis and treatment of patients. Not just here at the RUH but also for medical centres and GP surgeries in the local area. The MLA's play an important practical role in this service.

As an MLA your day will be made up of:

• Receiving and unpacking, labelling, sorting and centrifugation of blood tube samples ready for analysis.
• Checking, cleaning and maintaining equipment, such as a viscometer and Cepheid rapid PCR.
• Communicating with Biomedical Scientist staff and supporting the Blood Sciences service
• Entering data onto laboratory system- both paper and digital.
• Participate in the Covid testing process running analytical methods on multiple platforms.

Main duties of the job

All pre-analytical sample preparation (including unpacking, sorting, booking-in, preparation of aliquots, storage of samples and making decisions on sample quality and labelling).

Decision making on ambiguous requests, as defined by standard operating procedures.

Entry of Patient Identification Data (PID) and test details into the laboratory computer system, a high degree of concentration is required as errors at this stage may not be corrected before results are released to the requesting clinician.

Resolving PID problems e.g. mislabelling, mislaid specimens and incorrectly requested specimens.

Participation in distribution and receipt of stores goods and stock control

Sending of samples via the post, following the Postal regulation policy.

Filing of Samples, blocks and Request forms using either manual or electronic systems

Cleaning & disinfecting of work area including associated equipment.

Dealing with telephone enquiries in a polite, sensitive and professional manner.

Telephoning results to GP surgeries.

About us

At the RUH we're proud to put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone's contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.

We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks - celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.

A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.

We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We've even got a pool!

We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we're providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.

Details Date posted

10 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

427-7229903

Job locations

Royal United Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached for further information on the role.

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached for further information on the role.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Grade C/4 GCSE Maths and English or equivalent A Level/NVQ level 3/ IBMS Support staff Certificate of achievement part 1or equivalent level in Science subject

Desirable

• 5 GCSE grade C/5 2 A levels/NVQ level 3 or equivalent one in human biology or related to the medical laboratory field.
• 12 months non NHS laboratory experience

Experience Essential

• Previous NHS laboratory experience of at least 6 months full-time or equivalent with a broad knowledge of sample requirements and pre-analytical processes.

Desirable

• 12 months non NHS laboratory experience. Experience of working with scientific instruments and analysers both manual and automated

supervision Essential

• experience of supervising other staff

specific skills Essential

• data entry/IT skills

specific skills Essential

• Able to work quickly and accurately under pressure.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Grade C/4 GCSE Maths and English or equivalent A Level/NVQ level 3/ IBMS Support staff Certificate of achievement part 1or equivalent level in Science subject

Desirable

• 5 GCSE grade C/5 2 A levels/NVQ level 3 or equivalent one in human biology or related to the medical laboratory field.
• 12 months non NHS laboratory experience

Experience Essential

• Previous NHS laboratory experience of at least 6 months full-time or equivalent with a broad knowledge of sample requirements and pre-analytical processes.

Desirable

• 12 months non NHS laboratory experience. Experience of working with scientific instruments and analysers both manual and automated

supervision Essential

• experience of supervising other staff

specific skills Essential

• data entry/IT skills

specific skills Essential

• Able to work quickly and accurately under pressure.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal United Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG

Employer's website

https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal United Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG

Employer's website

https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)