Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Support Worker

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join Great Western Hospital as a Biomedical Support Worker.

You will part of the Cellular Pathology team involved in the technical preparation of specimens and performing defined procedures in accordance with standard operating procedures. This will include all aspects of the routine service provided by the department.

Main duties of the job

Reception of specimens. Reception includes collection of specimens from pathology reception, data matching between specimen containers and request forms, coding samples, sorting into the correct work stream, and identification of specimens which must be rejected. Rejected samples must be resolved and logged.
Set up, and clean down of dissection area, ensuring all required equipment/consumables are available and correct cleaning/disinfection methods are used. May involve some exposure to sharps (e.g. scalpel blades, dissection knives).
Assist with the process of specimen dissection. This involves writing medical dictation for occasionally long periods of time, and checking patient and specimen identification.
Responsibility for specimen storage and disposal. Store specimens awaiting disposal correctly, following departmental protocol. Identification of specimens ready for disposal. Disposal of specimens in a safe manner, including those requiring non-standard disposal (e.g. POCs).
Embedding processed tissue. This involves correctly orientating tissue in order to ensure subsequent diagnostic processes are able to be completed accurately.

About us

"Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives."

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7709755

Job locations

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB

Job description

Job responsibilities

Preparation of case for discussion at multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs). This includes identification of the appropriate cases, retrieval of slides from archive, data entry onto Excel spreadsheets, recording of audit data on completion of the meeting, and filing completed MDT lists.
Sorting of cases to be sent to other hospitals for further testing/expert opinion/review. Logging all material sent and returned, to ensure a full audit trail is available for every specimen.
Archive filing of all blocks, slides and other material, including preparation of blocks/slides for off-site storage and maintenance of records of material stored off-site.
Retrieval of archived reports from current and previous laboratory IT systems.
Maintenance and cleaning of automated staining machine, including the correct disposal of solvent waste in accordance with national and local regulations. This may involve some heavy lifting.

Please see the attached job description for full information

Job description

Job responsibilities

Preparation of case for discussion at multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs). This includes identification of the appropriate cases, retrieval of slides from archive, data entry onto Excel spreadsheets, recording of audit data on completion of the meeting, and filing completed MDT lists.
Sorting of cases to be sent to other hospitals for further testing/expert opinion/review. Logging all material sent and returned, to ensure a full audit trail is available for every specimen.
Archive filing of all blocks, slides and other material, including preparation of blocks/slides for off-site storage and maintenance of records of material stored off-site.
Retrieval of archived reports from current and previous laboratory IT systems.
Maintenance and cleaning of automated staining machine, including the correct disposal of solvent waste in accordance with national and local regulations. This may involve some heavy lifting.

Please see the attached job description for full information

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths

Desirable

Science A-levels (or equivalent): Biology, Chemistry, Physics
NVQ L3 in a laboratory-based discipline
IBMS Certificate of Achievement for Biomedical Science Support Staff, part I or II.

Experience

Essential

Experience of successfully working in a busy, multi-factorial role.

Desirable

Experience of working in a pathology department
Experience in Cytology and/or Histology
Experience in a customer service role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths

Desirable

Science A-levels (or equivalent): Biology, Chemistry, Physics
NVQ L3 in a laboratory-based discipline
IBMS Certificate of Achievement for Biomedical Science Support Staff, part I or II.

Experience

Essential

Experience of successfully working in a busy, multi-factorial role.

Desirable

Experience of working in a pathology department
Experience in Cytology and/or Histology
Experience in a customer service role.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB

Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB

Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)