Job Description

Applications are invited from a dynamic, motivated, reliable and enthusiastic person to join the Specimen Reception Team at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust in Guildford as a Medical Laboratory Assistant.



An MLA is the first point of contact therefore good communication skills, a friendly and approachable personality and the ability to demonstrate excellent customer relations are therefore essential. You should have good attention to detail, manual dexterity, excellent IT skills, the ability to work well under pressure and a good secondary education in English, Math's and Science.



This role is not a training role, therefore no previous lab experience is necessary and full training will be provided.



Duties include receipt, checking and sorting of specimens, labelling and preparation for analysis, inputting patient and test data into the laboratory computer system, handling telephone enquiries, distribution of pathology consumables, as well as general office duties such as photocopying and filing.



Working as part of the Specimen Reception team to provide an efficient and effective service to all users of the Pathology department, ensuring the rapid and timely turnaround of Pathology samples by receiving, labelling and entering onto the Pathology computer system.



Duties include receipt, checking and sorting of specimens, labelling and preparation for analysis Entering patient and test information onto the laboratory computer system and handling telephone enquires Assisting with the receipt, unpacking, sorting and distribution of pathology consumbales as well as general office duties such as photocopying and filing

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.



We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.



The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.



Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than 45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.



Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.



A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo



Please review the full Job description & Person Specification



To maintain good communication with the Team Leader in order to minimise errors and maximise efficiency though agreed priorities and to achieve the aim of completing all work within the working day. To maintain a close working relationship with senior laboratory staff. To assist in the electronic production and distribution of Pathology reports by post or email. To deal with telephone enquiries to give Pathology results for Haematology, Biochemistry and Microbiology, where appropriate and to re-direct calls to the various laboratories. Verbal contact with external laboratories on those tests not performed in house. To inform relevant requesting Consultants, Doctors or nursing staff over the phone and face to face when incorrect sample or information is received. To provide information to all users on the appropriate specimen collection procedure To provide information to patients over the telephone and face to face such as 24 hour urine collection. To also refer patients requesting results to the appropriate clinician. To welcome visitors to the laboratory in a professional and courteous manner. To take responsibility for the reception hatch, dealing with all the specimens handed in and general enquiries from members of the public, other Trust staff and patients in a professional and courteous manner.

The specimen reception service operates 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays



We are looking for applicants who can work anytime within these hours; the actual hours worked will be dependent on service and operational requirements.



The Pathology service at the Royal Surrey is part of Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services, a joint venture between Ashford and St Peter's NHS Foundation Trust, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust providing a wide range of analytical, diagnostic, interpretive and consultative services to hospitals, clinics and GPs.