Medical Laboratory Assistant

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A vacancy has arisen for the Medical Laboratory Assistant role at Royal Brompton Hospital. The candidate will play a vital role in providing an excellent quality patient care by assisting pathologists, BMSs and administrators to perform their daily tasks.

• The post holder will support registered Biomedical Scientists in providing a professional clinical laboratory service and will contribute to the efficient and effective running of the department.
• Duties include processing clinical specimens and performing basic scientific procedures.
• The postholder will be expected to organise day-to-day work activities, considering the needs of colleagues and of the department, and under the supervision of registered biomedical scientists.
• To administer transport for specimens referred from and to other hospitals.
• To safely handle, use and dispose of patient blood, urine, faeces, other body tissue, and hazardous chemicals.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South-East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South-East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.

Your development and learning

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

The Royal Brompton Hospital

Royal Brompton Hospital has a formidable international reputation for its treatment of lung and heart disease, built over more than 175 years.

It has ranked in the top ten 'World's Best Specialized Hospitals' ever since Newsweek created the list in 2021. It is home to Europe's largest centre for the treatment and management of cystic fibrosis, and also sees patients suffering from asthma and chronic lung conditions.

To receive clinical specimens into the laboratory
To check, sort and number request forms for all disciplines
To prioritise urgent work
To resolve basic problems arising from routine activities, including those relating to incorrectly or inadequately labelled specimens, and refer unresolved problems to the appropriate member of staff
To organise urgent specimen collections from the wards
To centrifuge specimens and to separate serum as required
To perform simple diagnostic tests and simple technical procedures
To use laboratory equipment and to operate automated laboratory analysers at a basic level under supervision
To prepare referral specimens, suitably package these, and organise transport to other hospitals as appropriate
To undertake other preparatory work on clinical specimens
To prepare reagents
To monitor the temperature of refrigerators and other temperature-controlled equipment
To perform simple maintenance of laboratory equipment
To perform simple quality checks on laboratory instruments and refer
results of the checks to the appropriate person
To prepare laboratory waste, including biological specimens, for disposal
To keep the laboratory clean and tidy
To scan and file request forms
To cover the work of other medical laboratory assistants as necessary
To follow Trust, departmental and directorate policies and standard operating procedures at all times
To participate in routine departmental audits
Monitor airflow through chemical and safety cabinets.