Medical Laboratory Assistant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

1. To undertake operational duties as directed by qualified Biomedical Scientist/Clinical Scientist staff or through the supervisor, which includes sample processing and preparation, inputting of patient results and associated clerical duties.

2. To prepare samples (e.g. blood, urine, faeces) requiring biochemical and/or toxicological investigations from internal and external users of our service.

3. To prepare samples for despatch to other NHS Hospitals (as required).

4. To maintain manual and computerised records.

5. To liaise with all areas of the department and with other internal departments and external hospitals with respect to service delivery.

6. To answer telephone enquiries for results, passing requests for advice to appropriate senior staff. To reply to enquiries from external hospitals asking about outstanding results.

7. To monitor and record fridge and freezer temperatures on a daily basis.

8. To assist with training and supervision of other MLA colleagues to carry out safely all procedures relating to Reference Biochemistry / Integrated Toxicology sample handling and preparation.

9. To maintain confidentiality at all times with regard to patient information and results.

10. To work with the team to regularly review the working practice as part of the Department’s drive towards maintaining a high quality and safe service (in accordance with UKAS accreditation and ISO 15182:2022 guidelines).

11. To follow and implement the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Safety Policy and Code of Practice. Inform the Safety Officer on safety issues within the Department.

12. To develop an understanding of the scientific basis of Laboratory work.

m.   The MLA must not disclose any information concerning patients to unauthorised persons, under the 1984 Data Protection Act.

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.

King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King’s has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.

Over the last 170 years, King’s has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.