Anatomical Pathology Technician


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£33,677 to £40,996 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Chertsey, KT16 0PZ
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	28 Sept 2026
Closing date:	12 Oct 2026

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Summary

A. Duties and Responsibilities: Communications and Relationships 1. To perform office functions such as communicating with service users in person or by telephone and arranging times for postmortems with Coroners officers and pathologists. This will include bereaved and grieving relatives, Coroners officers, police, pathologists, nurses, hospital-based Clinicians, bereavement officers, porters and other Trust staff. 2. To liaise with tissue and organ recovery teams always complying with the Trust consent process 3. To liaise with other trusts and local midwives with respect to transporting deceased babies from Central Delivery Suite Analytical and judgement skills 1. To assist with the procedures required to prepare a deceased for identification and to viewing. This includes potential contact with distressed grieving relatives and legislated authorities. 2. Provision of appropriate specimen containers during postmortem examinations; accurately receive, label, store and transport specimens (Blood, urine, swabs, organs, tissues) taken for analysis and laboratory examination in a safe manner. 3. To be responsible for taking, packaging and arranging the transportation of blood, urine and other body fluids required for further analysis under the direction of HM Coroner to outside laboratories (eg Forensic laboratories). To keep an accurate up to date log on the mortuary computer and relevant paper records 4. To obtain skills to such a level as to be able to assist APT staff in the supervised reconstruction of the deceased after postmortem to an acceptable standard including packing, padding and suturing. Planning and organisation 1. To be responsible for keeping accurate records of the deceased and their property in the mortuary register 2. To be responsible for the safe disposal of all clinical waste from the mortuary and postmortem room as required by Trust waste disposal policy including the safe bagging of dirty/soiled linen as required by the Trusts policy on dirty/soiled linen. 3. To be responsible for ensuring the safekeeping of property and valuables of the deceased in accordance with Trust policies and procedures 4. To be responsible for acquiring clean theatre gowns, towels and disposable personal protective equipment for Pathologists and APT staff. 5. To partake in the stock checking of all the mortuary stock items. To assist with the cost-effective purchase and provision of stock in order to maintain the smooth running of the office and mortuary area. 6. Ensuring all documentation is kept up to date and correct as required for accrediting organisations, including current HTA standards and kept in accordance with departmental protocols, this includes correct disposal of relevant documents. 7. Enact re-ordering protocols if stock items fall below minimum levels, to place any order direct to Pathology Administration. 8. Use and maintain equipment within the department in compliance with departmental policy. 9. To identify and undertake any training courses that may be considered appropriate. 10. To partake in the compiling and forwarding of relevant statistics to the Mortuary Services Manager. 11. To participate in cross site cover when requested. 12. To participate in the on call rota on a regular basis. Physical skills 1. To use hand eye co-ordination and manipulation skills in accurately numbering patient sample containers and subsequent tissue cassettes 2. Assisting during receipt and removal of bodies from the body store, including bariatric cases and managing this process under the direction of the Senior APT by liaising with funeral directors and other hospital staff according to mortuary and load management protocols and using appropriate load management equipment. Bodies can weigh in excess of 50 stone but the average weight moved on a daily basis is between 8 and 15 stone 3. To assist in the post mortem service, performing eviscerations and reconstruction to a high standard. Patient care responsibilities 1. To treat all deceased with appropriate respect Policy Development 1. To assist the Mortuary Services Manager in reviewing and formulating escalation and contingency plans, especially for peak work times (eg winter and bank holidays) Working conditions 1. To be responsible for the thorough cleaning and decontamination of the postmortem room. 2. To be responsible, under direction, for the correct cleaning and maintenance of equipment 3. To use appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing when dealing with dangerous substances as outlined in general and COSHH risk assessments, in particular care must be taken with formaldehyde and cleaning materials 4. To be aware of, and always comply with, Health and Safety regulations and safe laboratory practices. 5. To always comply with the requirement of the Data Protection Act Health and Safety 1. As an employee, you also have a duty to take reasonable care of your own Health and Safety. This include ensuring that you are aware of and follow all Trust Health and Safety and infection control procedures relevant to your work and participate in relevant mandatory training and annual infection control updates. You will be expected to consistently follow high standard of infection control practice, and this include hand cleansing and aseptic techniques for clinical staff 2. To comply with lone working conditions outlined as part of mortuary procedures, ensuring the safety of self and others as per point 2 above.

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