Medical Laboratory Assistant - Blood Sciences | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

The Laboratory Medicine department has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our team. The post holder will be working within Specimen Reception. The post holder will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients within the hospital by providing technical, scientific and data entry assistance to the Biomedical Scientists and other Departmental staff.

The working pattern in this role is rota based. Therefore your contracted hours of 30 per week (part time working equivalent) in accordance with agenda for change.

The post holder will be part of a team providing a diagnostic Blood Sciences service to the Trust. The team comprises Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA), Biomedical Scientists, Associate Practitioners, Clinical Scientists, Healthcare Scientists, clerical staff and Medical staff. In addition, you will interact with other staff in the Directorate.

This job advert may close early if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been submitted.

·Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing samples in a busy environment while maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and service users.

·Specimen reception – activation of requests and checking that request forms and specimens are labelled according to laboratory policy.

·Under supervision, analysis of samples received for testing.

·Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing a range of specimens

·Storing of samples following completion of analysis into the appropriate storage system.

·Tidying and maintenance of analysers once trained.

·Keeping workstations and spaces tidy and in order.

·Use of laboratory information management system (LIMS).

·Use of the laboratory consumables ordering system to ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are maintained.

·Use of software packages including word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

·To observe all applicable safety regulations and attend any mandatory and statutory training as required.

·To undertake such training as necessary to enhance and to improve performance within the Department.

·To liaise regularly with section heads/seniors to ensure the smooth running of the sections.

·Disinfection of the equipment, benching and sinks.

·Order, receive and store consumables & general goods delivered to the laboratory.

·Other duties as directed by the Department Manager or technical staff

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description attached to this vacancy.

This advert closes on Tuesday 20 Oct 2026