Medical Laboratory Assistant | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£25,760 - £27,476 pa
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Bristol, BS2 8HW
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	29 Oct 2026
Closing date:	28 Nov 2026

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Summary

The post holder will be part of a team providing a diagnostic Blood Sciences service to the Trust.

The team comprises Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA), Associate Practitioners (APs), Biomedical Scientists (BMSs), Healthcare Scientists, Clinical Scientists, clerical staff and Medical staff. In addition, he/she will interact with other staff in the Directorate, especially portering staff.

The post holder will be an important part of the Laboratory Medicine team, working within Specimen Reception, Haematology and Clinical Biochemistry. The post holder will take part in the shift rota which includes weekend and night shifts.

The post holder will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients within the hospital by providing technical and data entry assistance to the Biomedical Scientists and other Departmental

staff.

The post holder will perform a number of healthcare science technical activities including undertaking biomedical investigations on a range of body fluids under the supervision of a Health and Care Professions Council registered practitioner.

We are recruiting X 1 fixed term (12 month) position and X 1 substantive position available.

The post holder will be an important part of the Laboratory Medicine team, working within Specimen Reception, Haematology and Clinical Biochemistry.The post holder will take part in the shift rota which

includes weekend and night shifts.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing of samples in a busy environment while maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and service users.

• Specimen reception – activation of requests and checking that request forms and specimens are labelled according to laboratory policy.

• Under supervision, analysis of samples received for testing.

Storing of samples following completion of analysis into the appropriate storage system.

• Use of laboratory information management system (LIMS).

• Use of software packages including word processing, spreadsheets and databases to enter data on a daily basis.

• Use of the document management system.

• To observe all applicable safety regulations and attend any mandatory and statutory training as required.

• To undertake such training as necessary to enhance and to improve performance within the Department.

• To respond professionally to incoming telephone calls.

• To liaise regularly with section heads/seniors to ensure the smooth running of the sections.

• To attend formal staff meetings as and when appropriate.

• To be formally appraised on annual basis.

• Other duties as directed by the Department Manager or technical staff.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. 

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The post holder will be an important part of the Laboratory Medicine team, working within Specimen Reception, Haematology and Clinical Biochemistry.The post holder will take part in the shift rota which

includes weekend and night shifts.

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

This advert closes on Sunday 15 Nov 2026

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