Job requirements
Essential
24 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Skills
Good computer/keyboard skills
- Skills
Able to receive and communicate routine information to work colleagues or external contacts
- Skills
Competent and polite telephone manner
- Skills
Ability to work systematically and under pressure in a busy environment
- Skills
Accuracy and attention to detail
- Skills
Ability to work effectively as part of the laboratory team
- Skills
Ability to correctly follow appropriate procedures
- Knowledge
Knowledge of the importance and relevance of laboratory investigations to patient welfare
- Knowledge
Able to understand a range of routine work procedures, which require job training and a period of induction
- Knowledge
Able to seek advice and demonstrate work activities to new or less experienced staff
- Experience
Experience of working as part of a team. Able to work accurately.
- Qualifications
Good general education and must be numerate and literate with a good command of spoken and written English.
- Personal Attributes
Ability to work as part of a team and as an individual
- Personal Attributes
Ability to use initiative
- Personal Attributes
Ability to concentrate for long periods at technically demanding procedures
- Personal Attributes
Reliable
- Personal Attributes
Able to deal with problems in a calm efficient manner
- Personal Attributes
Ability to move around the department to collect laboratory samples/ post etc
- Personal Attributes
Willing to work flexibly
- Personal Attributes
Professional manner / demeanour
- Personal Attributes
Ability to participate in an out of routine hours rota
- Language requirement
Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
- Other requirements specific to the role
Ability to lift light loads
- Other requirements specific to the role
Ability to handle blood, urine and faeces specimens
Desirable
3 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Knowledge
Willingness to learn in response to changing work patterns or personal development
- Knowledge
Understand the role of Pathology within the NHS
- Experience
Happy to work in a busy environment
Job overview
We are seeking well organised, highly motivated individuals to join our multidisciplinary team. Applications are invited for the post of Medical Laboratory Assistant to work within the Central Reception Department at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust which will cover both sites at Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The departments include Biochemistry, Haematology and Transfusion and are all UKAS accredited. Medical Laboratory Assistants work as part of a team supporting the Biomedical scientists. Medical Laboratory Assistants receive and process (data entry) samples prior to testing by Biomedical Scientists in the laboratories.
The successful candidate will be trained to deal with enquiries on the telephone, and to accurately provide authorised results to other healthcare professionals as required.
Please ensure you read the attached person specification as your application will be assessed against this. Hours are part time (30.0 hours per week) on a shift basis. The laboratory operates 24/7 with core hours between 7am and 8pm, to include weekend and bank holiday working.
You will be required to undertake a typing test as part of the interview.
Contact - Amanda Terry , Central Reception Team Leader amanda.terry6@nhs.net 0300 019 4796
**This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are encouraged to apply promptly. *
Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.
Base location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Interview: Wednesday, 7th October 2026
Main duties of the job
Medical Laboratory Assistants work as part of the team supporting the Biomedical Scientists. Biomedical Scientists analyse blood, body fluids, tissues and cells to determine the presence or absence of disease, to enable diagnosis and also to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. They also carry out tests and analyses, which enable population screening for inherited or malignant disorders.
After training MLAs will be required to carry out a range of laboratory procedures including to collect and separate samples from wards and from the phlebotomy service throughout the day, to receive, check, sort, uniquely identify, label and prepare for analysis including those specimens for clinical trials and to be responsible for the accurate and timely dispatch of samples to other laboratories for testing as required. These duties to be performed according to standard operating procedures and within daily deadlines.
Concentration, accuracy and attention to detail are essential to these processes and medical laboratory assistants will be expected to provide a helpful and professional service to patients and staff within the NHS.
The Central (Specimen) Reception services are based at both Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The post will involve working at both sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert. Please note previous applicants do not need to apply.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception with University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in Poole, England. It is listed as a Band 2 Medical laboratory assistant role. The advertised salary is £25,272 pa. The contract type is 9 months (Fixed term contract to cover maternity leave). The application deadline is 25 Sep 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (18 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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