Tissue Centre Assistant

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Greater London is seeking a Tissue Centre Assistant to manage the collection, logging, and dispatching of pathology samples. The ideal candidate will have an educational background in biomedical sciences, good communication skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. The role requires flexibility with shifts and involves interaction with clinical teams. Comprehensive training will be provided, along with a salary range of £33,094 to £36,195 per annum.

Benefits

High-Cost Area Supplement

NHS Pension Scheme

Free counselling service

Learning and development opportunities

Attractive benefits and discounts

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Minimum educational qualifications include relevant scientific A levels or equivalent.
• BSc in Biomedical Sciences preferred.
• Experience within an acute hospital setting is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Collect, log, and send samples according to SOPs.
• Receive and dispatch samples, checking paperwork and samples carefully.
• Field queries from clinical teams and escalate issues as needed.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Flexibility

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Good general education (scientific A levels or equivalent)

BSc Biomedical Sciences

Tools

Microsoft Office

Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Patient Administration System (PAS)

Job description

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Tissue Centre Assistant

The closing date is 11 December 2025

A successful post created in advance of our move to Oriel, a new centre for Eye Health, due to open in 2027.

On rotation to work across all areas of the Tissue Centre, to assist with the daily running of the Pathology Service, the Moorfields Lions Eye Bank and Department of Eye Pathology. This post spans a majority technical, clinical and some administrative roles within these services.

In preparation for that move we are starting to bring the workforce together with roles such as this which have elements which cover all areas on a rotational basis, subject to planned need. Full comprehensive training shall be provided. The department seeks dynamic individuals with a "can-do" attitude, positive outlook, require minimal supervision and possess the appetite to seek continuous improvement with excellent outcomes.

Main duties of the job

The role covers the Pathology Services Department within the main Moorfields Hospital. The main duties here are to receive and despatch samples from across the Trust to the relevant pathology provider(s). It is a technical, clinical and administrative role, handling the samples and fielding calls and queries from clinical teams relating to the results.

The Moorfields Lions Eye Bank order and receive transplantable tissues and materials from multiple suppliers, before sending them to theatres and network sites for use in patients. There is a need to check theatre lists to ensure tissue is ordered in good time and to check it against acceptance criteria upon receipt. The correct tissue is then distributed for the correct recipient, with a custody trail maintained throughout.

The Department of Eye Pathology forms part of NSOPS and receives ophthalmic samples nationally which are dissected, processed and reported free of charge as a block funded service. Initially the role here would mirror that of a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) until IBMS training accreditation is back in place and then would transfer to a trainee role to enable HCPC registration.

About us

At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:

• Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement
• Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
• Free 24/7 independent counselling service
• Learning and development opportunities
• Easy and quick transport links
• A range of attractive benefits and discounts
• Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
• Free Pilates classes
• Full support and training to develop your skills
• Flexible working friendly organisation

And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.

Job responsibilities

To collect, log and send samples to the relevant pathology assessment service in accordance with the Pathology standard operating procedures (SOPs) and national guidelines for the dispatching of pathology samples.

To receive samples from network sites and clinics, log and send them to the relevant provider, returning the labelled Bio-Bottle containers to the originator as required.

To safely handle, log and send pathology samples (blood and other body fluid samples, tissue samples and so forth) to the relevant pathology provider.

To carefully check the request form and patient samples in accordance with the Request Form and specimen Labelling Policy.

To prioritise the workload so that urgent samples are dealt with in a timely manner and to record all urgent requests as required, to follow these up and promptly give results to the requesting clinician.

To field and escalate issues raised either via phone, the shared mailbox or physically so that the issue can be resolved to all partys satisfaction.

To provide support to colleagues within the department, as needed.

Moorfields Lions Eye Bank

To scrutinise, with colleagues, and action the daily transplant lists, to ensure the correct tissue is in the correct place in advance of surgery.

To source and order tissues as required from multiple tissue providers (NHSBT, MiS, RMLEB, NuVision and Wescott Medical) to maintain relevant stocks locally.

To undertake appropriate checks on receipt of tissues and ensure the appropriateness of both the tissue and storage conditions.

To ensure, with colleagues, that Tissue usage paperwork if completed for each issued tissue and to chase when there are identified gaps.

To review and generate reports as needed for providers, including the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), Infection Control (IPC) and Graft Outcome Clinics (GOC).

To provide support to colleagues within the department, as needed.

Department of Eye Pathology

To receive samples and biopsies from national senders and handle them in accordance with local guidelines.

To carefully check the request form and patient samples whilst booking the samples in to the departments computer system/databases.

To support the Biomedical Scientists by undertaking duties which they request, such as changing the processing machines, refreshing reagents across various analysers, running IQC and retrieving solvents from the bulk store as needed.

To be aware of, and up to date with competencies and SOPs such as reflect the work of the department.

To undertake filing and other such duties to support colleagues within the department.

To undertake administrative and secretarial duties. These include receiving and sending email and mail, filtering incoming calls, drafting correspondence, ordering and maintaining a supply of office consumables, audio typing, sending packages, filing and file system management including the scanning of documents and maintaining a contacts database.

Entering details of pathology specimens received into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Transcribing (typing) histopathology reports into the LIMS and distributing authorised reports to service users.

Generating reports from the LIMS on matters of clinical relevance (e.g. different sources of specimens, turnaround times, lists of cases with a specific diagnosis). This duty includes submitting regular monthly NHS returns and identifying cases for the Cancer Registry.

Telephone liaison for hospitals and others (e.g. police) queries regarding pathology results and possession of tissue.

Liaising with external parties regarding cases/charges for private and extracontractual work.

Assisting departmental staff in the prioritisation of cases to be reported. This includes identifying outstanding (non-reported) cases.

Liaising with external Trusts and laboratories over dispatch and receipt of cases for diagnosis in the UK and abroad.

Assisting administratively in meetings of the Department of Eye Pathology, including taking minutes when required.

Organising internal diagnostic audit and facilitating audits for the wider Trust.

Acting as a central point of contact for the Department.

Circulating all-staff emails on behalf of the Department.

Other Administrative

To use all relevant systems, including OpenEyes, PAS, EyePath, and Eye Bank plus Pathology databases to ensure Data Quality – amending where necessary.

To upload abnormal results to OpenEyes, messaging the requesting clinician so that they are aware.

To be aware of handling all complex and sensitive information appropriately in accordance with all relevant SOPs and to ensure all abnormal blood results are actioned as necessary.

To comply with the SOPs including for safe and secure confidential processing, storage and disposal of patient and other laboratory information in accordance with good work practices as required by the standards of UKAS against ISO15189:2022 and the Human Tissue Authority as needed.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Good general education, e.g. relevant scientific A levels or equivalent
• BSc Biomedical Sciences

Experience

• Some experience within an acute hospital
• Experience in dealing with sick patients
• Experience with complex blood tests and special samples
• Experience in a medical secretarial role, including typing of reports from audio cards and providing organisation and support to the department

Knowledge

• Microsoft Office or similar packages
• Computer skills in clinical settings i.e. LIMS/PAS

Skills/Abilities

• Good verbal and written communication skills with patients and staff in relation to our ophthalmic setting
• Proven ability to work under pressure or demanding schedule to avoid long waiting times
• Flexibility with shifts and weekend working

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

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£33,094 to £36,195 a year Per Annum Including HCAS