Phlebotomist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Phlebotomy team, based across both The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital sites.

We’re looking for someone with excellent communication, attention to detail, and a caring approach. Full training and ongoing support will help you develop your skills, whether you’re experienced or just starting your healthcare career.

As a phlebotomist, you’ll play a vital role in patient care by collecting blood samples safely and accurately to support diagnosis and treatment. You’ll be a reassuring presence for patients, combining technical skill with compassion to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Main duties of the job

This vacancy is for 1x30 hours per week flexible position, working across both the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen sites. Applicants must be prepared to work on a rota basis between the hours of 7am and 5.30pm Mon – Fri, and 8am – 1pm Sat and Sun, and Bank Holidays.

Once trained, you will perform venepuncture in both a busy outpatient department and on the hospital wards. Attention to detail and infection control awareness is crucial, together with good communication and team working skills. You will be key in ensuring samples are taken in a timely and efficient manner, whilst maintaining the health and safety of our patients, strictly adhering to infection control procedures, accurately labelling the samples and sending them off to the laboratory for testing.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

VENEPUNCTURE:

• Collect samples of potentially hazardous blood into appropriate containers.
• Ensure patients consent to procedure, check patient identification against request form identification.
• Accurate labelling of samples to confirm patients’ identity to conform to local and national guidelines.
• Ensure that samples are despatched to the appropriate laboratories by using the internal hospital vacuum pod system or by liaising with the porters.
• Work on a one to one with patients and without direct supervision.
• Ensure that anomalies are reported to a senior member of staff.
• Practice infection control procedures e.g. ANTT (antiseptic non touch technique)
• Assess and dress venepuncture site.
• Ensure your workstation is clean and stocked at all times.
• Handling of potentially contaminated bodily fluids e.g., urine, faeces, and sputum.
• Liaise with doctors and nursing staff regarding details on request forms etc.
• Show empathy and understanding of patients needs e.g. coping with needle phobias.
• Encouraging reluctant patients to undergo venepuncture.
• Reassuring distressed patients and their relatives
• Adapt procedures to cope with patients with mental and physical disabilities, also realizing patient’s religious boundaries.
• Using diplomacy, taking care not to disclose information that has not been previously explained to the patient by medical practitioner.
• To communicate with ward staff to ascertain whether a patient has fasted or taken medication at a certain time when relevant.
• Answer telephones enquires, and give relevant information or transfer the call to appropriate person.
• Understanding of all the procedures, and the need for special liaison with the laboratories, to ensure certain tests are carried out as per recognized procedure.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Ensure yearly training is carried out i.e. fire lectures, manual handling and mandatory training sessions relevant to post.

MANAGING SELF:

Attend training lectures, study days and workshops as and when relevant or as per instruction of Manager.

Read all relevant training literature provided.

Maintain an appropriate awareness of relevant departmental, hospital and national policies and Health and Safety guidelines.