Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Reception
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation TrustBournemouth, South West
Overview
This is a NHS role (fixed-term) with University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust based in Bournemouth. The advertised salary is £25,272. Applications close on 6 October 2026. GovJobs has indexed this vacancy from its official source — use the apply button to view the full advert and apply directly.
Job description
We are seeking well organised, highly motivated individuals to join our multidisciplinary team.Applications are invited for the post of Medical Labora...
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.
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.
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
In some cases this means that a services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
Contact -Amanda Terry , Central Reception Team Leaderamanda.terry6@nhs.net 0300 019 4796
Essential: - Good general education and must be numerate and literate with a good command of spoken and written English.
Essential: - Experience of working as part of a team. Able to work accurately.
Desirable: - Happy to work in a busy environment
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
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
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
Essential: - Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
Essential: - Ability to lift light loads; - Ability to handle blood, urine and faeces specimens
How this role compares
We hold 971 NHS vacancies in South West that publish a salary, and their median advertised starting figure is £32,073. This role pays less than about 95% of them.
There are 12,785 NHS roles open across the UK on GovJobs right now, 1,529 of them in South West.
You have 3 days left to apply. NHS adverts we hold typically run for around 59 days, so this is a shorter window than usual.
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust has 49 other vacancies open on GovJobs, with a breakdown of what they pay and the kinds of roles they recruit for.
These figures are calculated from the vacancies GovJobs currently holds, not from official pay statistics. They are a guide to the market, not a valuation of this post.
How to apply
GovJobs does not take applications or send your details to the employer. Use the apply button to open the official Nhs Jobs advert, then check the employer's instructions, attachments, person specification and closing time before applying.
This listing was last checked on 2 Oct 2026, 01:11. If the official advert has changed or closed, report it and we will review the listing.
Why this listing is on GovJobs
GovJobs indexes public-sector vacancies from official sources, normalises the title, employer, location, salary and deadline, and links back to the source so you can verify the advert yourself.
The source for this role is Nhs Jobs. Applications stay on the official employer or source website, not on GovJobs.