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Job summary

Main area
Pathology
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shift requirement)
Job ref
249-8308536
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 pro rata per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Biomedical Scientist

Band 5

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic, reliable and conscientious individual with a strong work ethic. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver what is required to achieve a safe, high quality and effective service whilst continuously striving for improvement.

The successful candidate will undertake general and specialist analysis of samples received in Blood Sciences, on a rotational basis throughout all sections of  Haematology and Blood Transfusion.

These procedures include the analysis and interpretation of complex results which ultimately leads to the production of a laboratory report, which may impact directly on patient care. You are responsible for informing a Consultant Haematologist of any result that may need immediate clinical action.

Main duties of the job

Biomedical Scientists (BMSs) contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients by performing and interpreting a range of scientific procedures on biological specimens using highly complex equipment.

This post operates throughout Haematology and Blood Transfusion, in conjunction with the Biomedical Support Workers. The laboratory is fully UKAS ISO 15189 Accredited and is also an accredited site for HCPC Certificate of Competence and IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Chemistry Training.  The department has state of the art equipment with a refresh of major analysers in 2019.     

We have Sysmex with Di60 for FBC and Films,  Werfen for coagulation and Ortho in Blood Transfusion     In 2021 we have installed and gone live with a comprehensive Kelsius Temperature Monitoring System.    Early in 2022 we expect to take on a full complement of new Microscopes.    Ordercomms is now established for Hospital and GP Users and the laboratory and a major IT upgrade to Winpath Enterprise is underway for implementation in 2022.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    General and specialist analysis of samples received in Blood Sciences, on a rotational basis throughout all sections of Haematology and Blood Transfusion.
2.    Authorise clinical results in accordance with defined turnaround times.
3.    Perform maintenance, calibrations and quality control checks on analytical equipment, following suitable training.
4.    Rotate through all benches within the Haematology and Blood Transfusion sections.
5.    To engage with quality management system (NCNs, audits, etc) and to maintain accreditation under UKAS ISO 15189 standards
6.    Contribute to the departmental out of hours shift rota.
7.    Operate in a manner which is respectful and professional.
8.    Adhere to Trust policies for health and safety and patient confidentiality.
9.    Engage with the departmental training programme for each task.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • HCPC Registration as a Biomedical Scientist
  • IBMS accredited Biomedical Sciences degree (or equivalent approved by the IBMS)
Desirable criteria
  • Further training courses (e.g. analyser/subject specific)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience working and communicating as part of a diverse team
  • Experience working in a UK NHS diagnostic laboratory
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working in a UK NHS diagnostic laboratory in a haematology and/or blood transfusion discipline
  • Experience working as part of an out of hours shift rota or as a lone worker

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldCare Leaver CovenantStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kirk Allott
Job title
Laboratory Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 607242
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