Healthcare Scientist - Medical Laboratory Assistant

  • Department Cellular Pathology Department
  • Salary £24,465.00 – £24,465 per annum
  • Closing Date 17/03/2026
  • Location Shrewsbury
  • Grade NHS AfC: Band 2
  • Job ref 223-MLA-194
  • Pension NHS Pension
  • Holidays Generous Holiday Allowance
  • NHS discount Eligible for NHS Discounts
  • Contract Permanent
  • Hours 37.5 hours per week

Are you interested in working within a laboratory setting and learning more about Cellular Pathology?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our friendly team at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.  You will be required to assist in specimen reception, dissection assisting and filing  under the supervision of state registered Biomedical Scientists.  You will also be committed to providing support to our scientists where the duties include the input of data entry and handling telephone enquiries.

Main duties of the job

Are you interested in working within a laboratory setting and learning more about Cellular Pathology?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our friendly team at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.  You will be required to assist in specimen reception, dissection assisting and filing  under the supervision of state registered Biomedical Scientists.  You will also be committed to providing support to our scientists where the duties include the input of data entry and handling telephone enquiries.

Please note that these positions are highly competitive so it is important that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the key criteria for the role and what you and your experience could bring to the department.

The successful candidate will be expected to work some Saturdays.

Working for your organisation

The two SATH Hospitals, The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and The Princess Royal Hospital, Telford are just a 30 minute drive apart. Both hospitals provide a wide range of acute hospital services including accident & emergency, outpatients, diagnostics, inpatient medical care and critical care.

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital is a specialist orthopaedic hospital in the outskirts of Oswestry,  the Cellular Pathology service is provided by SATH.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities of the post-holder:


An MLA is expected to perform a range of tasks of a similar nature and level of responsibility that contribute towards an integrated, diagnostic service.  In particular you will:
•    Follow tasks that are defined in writing, but may be communicated to you verbally by a member of staff supervising you.
•    Receive, sort, label, distribute and process specimens.
•    Entry of patient demographic details and specimen requests onto the laboratory computer system.
•    Prepare specimens for testing and perform simple non-interpretive tests as part of the investigation of those specimens.
•    Maintain, where appropriate, accurate records of the work assigned to you.
•    Assist in maintaining stock levels of reagents and consumables in the area in which you are working. 
•    Assist in the receipt of deliveries and their subsequent distribution throughout the laboratory.
•    Pack specimens for despatch to other laboratories (internal and external).
•    Deal with telephone enquiries to the laboratory, within the constraints of your grade and level of training.
•    Perform a range of clerical and /or laboratory duties.
•    File request forms and reports.
•    Undertake training that is relevant to the post.
•    Assist in the training of other unqualified members of staff, through practical demonstration, as required.
•    Assist in the achievement and maintenance of standards required by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) UK Ltd, Medicines and other accreditation schemes. 
•    Understand and follow at all times health and safety instructions made clear to you in the course of your duties.
•    Attend Team Briefings, Staff Appraisals, Statutory Training and any other mandatory commitments defined by the Trust.
•    Make an effective contribution to maintaining cleanliness and good housekeeping in the area in which you are working, including the disinfection of laboratory equipment and surfaces.

The well-being of our staff is of the upmost importance to us.  If you are offered a role at our Trust, and fall into the increased and higher risk categories as set out by Public Health England (PHE) and NHSI/E, your line manager will complete an risk assessment with you.  This will be completed in conjunction with the latest guidance from Public Health England in relation to Covid-19.

By submitting your application to Trac, you are giving your consent for parts of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems. This is to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation. 

If successful, by completing the NHS Jobs application form you authorise the Trust to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national ESR.

If the role requires a qualification/professional registration, you will need to provide proof during the recruitment process. By submitting your application you are giving the Trust permission to check the qualification certificates provided back to the source provider. Please note that a sample of all applicant’s qualifications will be checked with the educational institution or provider.

In the event of a high response to this advertisement, this post will be closed. Early applications are advised.
 
Unfortunately we do not accept CVs or keep them on file. If you are unable to apply online please contact the person named in the advertisement for the post you are interested in.
 
We are committed to offering an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the above position and will support reasonable adjustments wherever possible.  In addition, whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are male, from black and minority ethnic backgrounds or who have a disability, as these are currently under-represented in our workforce.
 
We are committed to equal opportunities in employment. The policies and practices of the Trust aim to promote an environment that is free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of all people. At the heart of our policy, we seek to treat people fairly, flexibly and with dignity and respect.

Thank you for your interest in The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, we look forward to receiving your application for employment.

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