Job summary
- Main area
- Additional Clinical Services
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent: 2x roles available
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC26-821A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Chemical Pathology (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 Per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/05/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 18/05/2026
Employer heading
Biomedical Associate Practitioner
Band 4
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Job title: Biomedical Associate Practitioner
Department: Blood Sciences – Chemical Pathology
Band 4 - £28,392 - £31,157 Per annum, pro rata
Hours: 2 x Full Time, 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
An opportunity has arisen within this busy Pathology service to join the Blood Science (Chemical Pathology) team for 12 months. Do you have good organisational and practical skills and would you like to work behind the scenes in a laboratory?
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: 18 May 2026
The vacancy may close once sufficient applicants have been received.
Main duties of the job
An Associate Practitioner in an NHS Chemical Pathology laboratory is responsible for the efficient receipt, checking, and logging of patient samples on the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), ensuring all specimens meet acceptance criteria and are correctly prioritised. They prepare, centrifuge, aliquot, and store samples appropriately while assisting with referrals to external laboratories. Under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists, they operate and maintain automated chemistry analysers to perform routine biochemical tests such as electrolytes, liver function, and lipid profiles, ensuring compliance with SOPs and quality control requirements. They accurately enter and verify patient data and results on LIMS, escalate any discrepancies, and contribute to troubleshooting flagged results. Additionally, they maintain stock levels of reagents and consumables, ensure proper reagent storage and equipment cleanliness, and uphold safety and infection control standards within the laboratory environment.
We are committed to the quality of service we provide our patients and users and have been awarded ISO15189 accreditation for Haematology/Blood Transfusion and Chemistry repertoires.
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey: Our Compassionate Culture and Leadership scores reflect a workplace where kindness, respect, and empathy are the norm—not the exception.
We have committed leadership who engage our staff, listen to innovative ideas, and involve our people in the challenges and improvements that our organisation faces. Continuing professional and personal development is encouraged and supported. We provide a comprehensive 24/7 service which the successful candidate will support through flexible rostering.
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Good standard of general education.
- Science/Math studied to A Level or equivalent, i.e.: - NVQ level 3 or - an approved Foundation Course in Science, - the IBMS Certificate of Achievement.
Desirable criteria
- Foundation degree or degree in Biomedical Science or accredited degree
- Knowledge of the principles of Health & Safety at Work
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in Pathology laboratory.
- Experience of working unsocial hours shift patterns
Desirable criteria
- Experience to Vocational Qualification Level 3 or equivalent level plus additional theoretical or applied training in specific discipline to diploma equivalent level
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work in a team and be supportive to other team members.
- Concentration and attention to detail.
- Flexible approach
- Forward thinking
- Able and willing to work unsocial hours as required of the role
Communication
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills including a clear command of written and spoken English.
- Must have Information Technology skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sanjiv Sawock
- Job title
- Chemical Pathology Operational Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01908 995830
- Additional information
For further information contact Sanjiv Sawock ([email protected]), Chemical Pathology Operational Manager 01908 995830 or
Telephone the laboratory and ask to speak to a Senior 01908 955761
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