# Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/medical-laboratory-assistant-central-reception/3420b9e4-a976-4311-ba28-b0de834fd5c5 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/medical-laboratory-assistant-central-reception/3420b9e4-a976-4311-ba28-b0de834fd5c5.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust - **Location:** Poole Hospital - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Profession:** Medical laboratory assistant - **Grade:** Band 2 - **Salary:** £25,272 pa - **Contract type:** 9 months (Fixed term contract to cover maternity leave) - **Employment type:** Part time - 30 hours per week (Shifts - including weekend and night duties) - **Closing date:** 2026-09-25T22:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-09-18T08:51:15.891Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Dorset/Bournemouth/University_Hospitals_Dorset_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Blood_Sciences/Blood_Sciences-v8284730 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8284730?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.uhd.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### 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. ## Person Specification ### Skills **Essential** - Good computer/keyboard skills - Able to receive and communicate routine information to work colleagues or external contacts - Competent and polite telephone manner - Ability to work systematically and under pressure in a busy environment - Accuracy and attention to detail - Ability to work effectively as part of the laboratory team - Ability to correctly follow appropriate procedures ### Knowledge **Essential** - Knowledge of the importance and relevance of laboratory investigations to patient welfare - Able to understand a range of routine work procedures, which require job training and a period of induction - Able to seek advice and demonstrate work activities to new or less experienced staff **Desirable** - Willingness to learn in response to changing work patterns or personal development - Understand the role of Pathology within the NHS ### Experience **Essential** - Experience of working as part of a team. Able to work accurately. **Desirable** - Happy to work in a busy environment ### Qualifications **Essential** - Good general education and must be numerate and literate with a good command of spoken and written English. ### Personal Attributes **Essential** - Ability to work as part of a team and as an individual - Ability to use initiative - Ability to concentrate for long periods at technically demanding procedures - Reliable - Able to deal with problems in a calm efficient manner - Ability to move around the department to collect laboratory samples/ post etc - Willing to work flexibly - Professional manner / demeanour - Ability to participate in an out of routine hours rota ### Language requirement **Essential** - Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role ### Other requirements specific to the role **Essential** - Ability to lift light loads - Ability to handle blood, urine and faeces specimens ## Documents - [job description (pdf, 456.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10601794) - [medical laboratory assistant ps (reception) (pdf, 96.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10601795) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.