Job overview

Pathology specimen reception are looking for a  new team member.  We ensure every sample sent to pathology is checked, registered and labelled correctly before going into our laboratories for testing. We receive thousands of samples every day from wards, community sites and GP practices and work to exacting ISO standards for the safety of our patients.

Hospital workflow is steady throughout the day and GP bloods start arriving early afternoon, continuing into the evening.  Our shift patterns match this workflow with more of us on in the afternoon and evening ensuring that every sample is processed by the laboratory the day it is taken.  There will be bursts of activity as samples arrive from across East Sussex needing to be unpacked, followed by data entry before taking the samples into the labs. Pathology runs 365 days a year and our shifts reflect this.

The skills required for specimen reception are very much administration and not clinical or scientific but we do work very closely with our Biomedical Scientist colleagues in ensuring safe and correct management of patient samples.  Attention to detail and computer skills are key.  Our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is quite unlike any other Hospital system but these skills can be taught as part of our competency program so no prior clinical knowledge is required.  

Previous applicants need not apply. 

Main duties of the job

Specimen Reception Pathology Assistants support the work of the 
laboratory and Biomedical Scientists (BMS) by carrying out 
non-interpretative laboratory procedures.  A significant part of this role is data entry using the laboratory computer system,  correctly identify patient’s details and handling of samples of a potentially hazardous nature. 
Typical duties are unpacking, sorting and booking in samples, 
packing specimens to send away to referral laboratories, preparing 
specimens for testing, performing simple analytical procedures and 
some more general tasks of this nature.

Previous applicants need not apply. 

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year. 

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

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