Medical Laboratory Assistant | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT)

Job description

About

Are you organised, detail-focused and looking to start a career within NHS Pathology Services?

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our Blood Sciences Sample Reception team at Southmead Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to support one of the region's busiest pathology services, helping to ensure that patient samples are received and processed.

This is a full-time developmental post, commencing atBand 2, with progression toBand 3following a minimum of six months in post and successful completion of the required training programme.

Previous laboratory experience is not essential. Full training will be provided.

The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the day-to-day operation of the Blood Sciences Laboratory. We are looking for individuals who can work accurately under pressure, have strong attention to detail, possess good IT and data entry skills, and can communicate professionally with patients, healthcare professionals and colleagues.

The postholder will be required to participate in a24-hour rota, working a range of shifts including days, evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Please note:This role is primarily focused on data input and sample reception activities, with some handling of pathology specimens. This isnota trainee Biomedical Scientist post and doesnotsupport completion of the HCPC Registration Portfolio.

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Main duties initially will include:

• Data input of patient details and test request information

• Sorting, preparation and processing of clinical samples for biological testing

• Assisting with Telephone Helpdesk enquiries

• Communicating test results to appropriate healthcare professionals.

Following progression to Band 3, duties include the following:

• Participating in Sample Referral workflow

• Working within the Blood Transfusion department including transportation of blood products across the Trust.

• Assisting with training new member of staff

• Deputising for Team Leaders as required

The postholder will be required to work a range of shifts between 08:00-08:00 including days, evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis. 

Training will take place during dayshift hours.

This advert may close early, if we have received a sufficient amount of applications. Therefore you are highly advised to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.  With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.  

 Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge. 

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.

The postholder will work under the direction of senior staff to work as part of a team to provide 24/7 support to the Blood Sciences laboratory.  The post will primarily operate in Sample Reception, providing data input and pre-analytical support.

The postholder must be able to deal with confidential information appropriately, be able to work accurately and to deadlines and be able to work with minimum supervision.

The Blood Sciences Sample Reception team support the working of the Blood Sciences Automated Laboratory.  We have approximately 35 members of staff within our reception team who work across a variety of shifts to provide 24/7 support to the Haematology, Blood Transfusion, Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology laboratories.

The Blood Sciences Auto lab provides analysis of pathology samples for BFT Trust inpatients and outpatients and provides an analytical service to a large number of GP practices.

This advert closes on Wednesday 21 Oct 2026