Medical Laboratory Assistant -Haematology & Blood Transfusion (S&O)

This position is to work as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Haematology & Blood Transfusion Department at Southport & Formby District General and Ormskirk District General Hospitals. The post holder will follow standard operating procedures and health & safety guidelines, handle blood and body fluids from receipt to safe storage, maintain patient sample identity and data accuracy in the Laboratory Information System, operate analysers, assist Biomedical Scientists, and rotate through all sections in the discipline and Specimen Reception. The role also involves attending anticoagulant clinics to take finger‑prick samples from patients and ensuring timely turnaround of results in a 24‑hour service.

Main duties of the job:

• Check patient identification details and number samples for analysis.
• Reference on request forms any missing samples.
• Return pods to wards and deliver samples to the appropriate department.
• Receive visitors to pathology and inform relevant staff.
• Receive deliveries and notify the correct department upon arrival.
• Assist in cleaning and disinfecting work areas and equipment.
• Dispose of waste.

Technical responsibilities:

• Follow SOPs and perform routine operative maintenance on laboratory instruments, change reagents and log actions.
• Prepare reagents for laboratory investigations.
• Report incidents or events that could affect service delivery to BMS staff.
• Conduct diagnostic tests under indirect qualified supervision.
• File completed samples and request forms for storage.
• Monitor and record fridge temperatures, return unused blood to stock, and replace emergency O Neg stock as required.
• Record visual examination of samples (e.g., underfilled, haemolysed, lipaemic) as directed by SOPs.
• Load, sample and remove samples from main line analysers.
• Perform routine quality control on analysers and report out‑of‑range results to qualified staff.
• Assist in clinical audits, trials and research projects as directed by management.

Laboratory informatics:

• Enter specimen and patient details into the pathology computer according to SOPs and correct information entered by other staff.
• Comply with policies for safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient data.
• Use the Pathology Computer Systems and enter results into Telepath.
• Maintain integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
• Use Trust‑wide IT systems following policies and procedures.
• Participate in sample receipt checks and prepare outstanding lists from the Laboratory Information System.

Administrative responsibilities:

• Ensure records are kept up to date and stored safely in compliance with UKAS ISO15189 standards.
• Maintain good laboratory practices and health & safety procedures.
• Manage reporting of results within a timely framework.
• Advise Senior Biomedical Scientists of reagent and consumable stock levels.

Communication:

• Telephone patient results to clinical users following appropriate policies.
• Contact service users regarding problematic samples.
• Communicate relevant information to laboratory colleagues.
• Actively participate in team meetings and provide effective hand‑over communication.

Qualifications:

• Basic typing qualifications or NVQ 2 in Health Sciences and/or equivalent experience.
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent qualification and/or equivalent experience.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Understanding of a working laboratory.

Skills:

• Basic computer skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Well‑organised.
• Willing to work flexibly.
• Willing and able to learn new skills.
• Initiative.
• Good telephone manner.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.

Other:

• Personable, friendly demeanor.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity and respect for all individuals. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and value the unique skills and experiences you bring. We welcome all applications irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexuality, religion, age, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, or mental health. We provide a disability‑confident recruitment scheme and a guaranteed interview scheme for armed forces veterans.