Anatomical Pathology Technician

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals for a qualified Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT).  A trainee APT would be considered for the right applicant (annex 21).

The Mortuary services managed by Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals spans 3 sites at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals and perform in excess of 750 post-mortem examinations per year at the instruction of HM Coroner. The department is fully HTA and UKAS accredited.

The successful candidate will ideally have a Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology and demonstrable experience of working in a mortuary setting. They will be able to demonstrate good technical knowledge of mortuary policy, procedure, and human anatomy, as well as a good understanding of health and safety legislation and working in compliance with HTA guidelines. Continuous professional development is actively encouraged amongst all members of the team, and the department has a good track record of developing its staff to realise their full potential.

The role will involve performing a number of tasks including receipt and appropriate storage of the deceased, preparation for post-mortem examination and release of the deceased in line with departmental policy, best practice and the Human Tissue Act, and in support of the Coroner, Pathologists and Police.

Participation in an on-call rota is mandatory; overtime will be paid for this.

Main duties of the job

Anatomical Pathology Technicians work with the coroner’s officer and the pathologist to ensure that the post-mortem workflow is maintained following the current policies and procedures. Assisting the pathologists by preparing the post-mortem room and the deceased for post-mortem. Supporting the bereavement service by preparing the deceased for viewing and maintaining good communication with bereaved families. Deceased are received from the Trust and from the community and thorough ID checks of all Patient identification data is essential during receipt and release procedures.

• The Mortuary services under the direction of MWL spans Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk mortuaries.
• Anatomical Pathology Technicians are able to practice within a mortuary environment upon completion of the Certificate in Anatomical Pathology and will have a minimum of 2 years’ experience. They are engaged in Continuing Professional Development improving their knowledge, increasing the breadth of basic skills acquired for the Certificate and developing them into advanced skills for the Diploma.
• They are good problem solvers and as a member of a team are required to be good communicators with staff and outside agencies. They work without guidance and some medical supervision completing tasks in the delivery of a mortuary service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ensure all duties are carried out in compliance with the Human tissue authority (HTA) codes of practice.
• Carry out procedures with regards to receipt, storage and release of the deceased completing associated documentation in compliance with current policies.
• Ensure all unidentified deceased are appropriately identifiable once identity has been established.
• Liaise with the Trust Bereavement Officers, assisting them in the functions of the service dealing with bereaved families.
• Assist, the Coroners Officers and carry out their instructions with regards to all deceased bodies in their remit.
• To assist with hospital postmortems on the instruction of the Consultant Histopathologists or other medical staff.
• To assist with postmortems carried out at the instruction of H M Coroner under the arrangements made with Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospital.
• To perform, under supervision of the Consultant Pathologist, relevant postmortem procedures on patients which are in an advanced state of mechanical disruption or decomposition/infestation.
• To prepare the deceased for viewing in a sensitive and respectful manner demonstrating awareness of religious requirements subject to individual risk assessment
• Carry out surgical evisceration, and patient reconstruction processes in the postmortem suite in accordance with mortuary policies to enable identification for Police, viewings for relatives and dignified collection from funeral directors.