Assistant Practitioner

Job details

• Job reference: 261465
• Salary: Band 4 (£31,537 - £34,303)
• Job closing date: 21/10/2026
• Job Type: Healthcare Sciences
• Location: NHS Lothian
• Employment type: Fixed-term
• Hours Per Week: 36
• Job posted date: 07/10/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Pathology Department

NHS LOTHIAN

Department of Pathology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Western General Hospital

Assistant Practitioner, Band 4 x 2 posts

12-months Fixed Term, Full time post 36 hours per week

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To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

Applications are invited for the above posts based in Pathology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, however there will be periods of working at the Western General Hospital site. These posts are for a Fixed Term 12-month period to support increased implementation of Digital Pathology processes within Histopathology.

The successful applicants will support clinical and laboratory management to optimise internal pathway processes e.g. co-ordinating slide preparations from different Pathology laboratory and office areas to the scanners and Pathologists to ensure that optimal cancer workload is efficiently digitally imaged.

The successful post holders will work with individuals with Digital Pathology interest such as laboratory management, Consultant, and resident doctors as well as an Edinburgh University Clinical Development Fellows, amongst other team members providing NHS Pathology services.

The successful applicants will learn about and contribute to providing comprehensive support to the clinical laboratory service, working effectively as a team member. Candidates should be adaptable, have good interpersonal skills and a professional attitude.

Candidates should also have previous experience of working with complex and highly sensitive equipment. Excellent attention to detail and manual dexterity is required for this post. An interest in digital and IT processes and use of new software is desirable.

Candidates should be educated to SCQF level 8 e.g. HND; or SVQ4; or IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2; Personal Development Awards. This is a full-time post.

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact Nichola Wilson on 0131 242 7802 or email nichola.wilson@nhs.scot