Biomedical Scientist - Clinical Biochemistry

Job overview

The Eastern Pathology Alliance is formed from three Pathology Laboratories based at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), the James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn (QEH).

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 HCPC registered Biomedical scientists to work in full time cross site rotational roles between the NNUH hub laboratory and the QEH spoke laboratory, in Chemistry Automation. The Laboratory at NNUH provides a large range of Blood Sciences services comprising Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Transfusion, Immunology and Toxicology. The laboratory at QEH provides 24/7 laboratory services in Haematology, Transfusion and biochemistry primarily for the Inpatient and outpatient demands for the Trust.

Successful candidates will work as part of the BMS teams at the hub laboratory and QEH laboratories where they will be rostered to cover shifts on both sites. They will have experience of working as independent practitioners in Clinical Biochemistry and will be required to participate in the delivery of a 24/7 laboratory service between both sites. Rosters will be planned in advance, and full training and competency assessment will be given to enable candidates to work on both sites. Candidate will be expected to have their own transport and be able to travel between sites, for which reimbursement of mileage will be given.

Main duties of the job

As post holder, you will:

• Oversee and run daily test procedures on all methodologies to include calibration and quality control testing and to sign off as fit for clinical use
• Be responsible for ensuring the team is able to process both urgent and routine work to maintain routine turnaround times in line with Trust and Service policies.
• Fault find equipment and analysers, and take appropriate action to ensure equipment is operational and fit for purpose.
• Participate in out of hours rosters between NNUH and QEH sites covering chemistry automation.
• Be responsible for inputting and amending patient data and results, which includes other colleagues work and specimen reception.
• Provide education and training of Medical staff, Clinical Scientists, other Biomedical Scientists, Trainee Biomedical Scientists, MLA’s and visiting students as required within laboratory chemistry automation.
• Demonstrate on-going competence to practice by attending courses, lectures, mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and other training activities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Communicates complex clinical scientific service related test information to managers, consultants, nurses, other health care colleagues, patients and patient carers
• Answers telephone inquiries from pathology users, patients and patient carers about test results and provide information that is highly complex about methodologies and service requirements
• Interprets results and reassures the users that the information is correct when results do not agree with clinical presentation and investigate and problem solves situations in their specialist field.
• Manages own work and day-to-day routine work in specialised services. Responsible for processing both urgent and routine work to maintain routine turnaround times in line with Trust and Service polices.
• Maintains very complex specialist analytical equipment on a daily basis and sign off as fit for clinical use.
• Responsible for the efficient use of expensive tests and high value analysers.
• Run test procedures on all methodologies on a daily basis to include calibration and quality control testing and sign off methods as fit for clinical use.
• Fault find equipment and analyser function after formal in-house training.
• Implement policies in specialised areas and propose changes that will improve and develop the service for users inside and outside the Trust.
• Inform outside agencies and manufacturers of problems with equipment and help service engineers to repair and maintain laboratory equipment.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.