Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Medical Laboratory Assistant, Histology

This job is now closed

Job summary

To work on rotation within the Department of Cellular pathology, as part of a team comprising Biomedical Scientists, Consultant pathologists and medical secretaries, delivering a diagnostic Histology and Cytology service. The postholder will be expected to work under supervision in some areas and under their own initiative in others.

All appropriate training will be given and assessments of competence made as necessary.

The post has no budgetary responsibilities.

Main duties of the job

To follow agreed protocols and policies seeking advice where appropriate from more senior staff
To work in an efficient and timely manner and to be adaptable to change
To work in a safe manner in accordance with departmental and Trust Health and Safety policies
To contribute to care, maintenance and security of the laboratory premises and equipment
To demonstrate a positive attitude to the work of the laboratory, colleagues and service users
To respond to requests for information in a polite, helpful and concise manner
To maintain confidentiality and conform with the Data Protection Act
To work to quality standards for all aspects of the service as defined by the Pathology Directorate Quality Management System (QMS)

The post holder will participate in an annual Personal Development Review/ appraisal process as well as all necessary mandatory training. As part of the PDR process the postholders involvement and contribution to Quality Management will be reviewed along.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Date posted

26 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9365-26-0215

Job locations

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR5 1DD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific duties: Cut-up room

To unpack Histology samples, checking details on request form and pot to ensure that sample data is correct. To attach consecutively numbered bar code labels to the form and pot.

To set out numbered specimens ready for cut up and prepare the appropriate type and number of tissue processing cassettes.

To book in the samples onto the laboratory computer system.

To assist the Consultant Pathologist or Biomedical Scientist with the process of cut-up by taking an accurate dictation of specimen description, dimensions, number of pieces etc.

To enter data onto the computer system and generate slide labels which are attached to the forms.

To reject specimens which do not conform to acceptable requirements, contacting sender or returning them to sender and monitoring the action taken and date and time of return to the laboratory.

To dispose of tissue by checking and recording on Winpath as per protocol.

To collect specimens from specimen reception regularly throughout the day in conjunction with work colleagues.

To provide backup assistance in the Histology laboratory if required.

Specific duties: General Histology laboratory

To place cases slides together, with corresponding request card, prior to these being checked out of the lab.

To trim excess wax from tissue blocks and sort into batches ready for sectioning.

To monitor stock levels of consumables within the laboratory and notify the Lead BMS when ordering is necessary.

To collect specimens from specimen reception regularly throughout the day in conjunction with work colleagues.

To dispose of formalin fixed tissues and wash and re-fill formalin pots.

To file slides and tissue blocks.

To archive slides and blocks where required

To maintain laboratory stocks of formalin, formalin pots and solvents by transfer from the storage bunker. To transport waste solvents from the laboratory to the bunker if required.

To receive deliveries of solvents as necessary.

To empty clinical waste bins, transferring bags and containers to the appropriate site.

To collect laboratory coats for laundering and take to the laundry

To maintain the staining machine on a daily basis by emptying used reagents, cleaning containers and re-filling with fresh reagents.

To undertake general housekeeping duties as required.

To provide backup assistance in the Cut-up room if required.

To carry out such monitoring as is required, e.g. temperatures, formaldehyde levels, airflows etc.

To send away blocks and slides for second opinion as required.

To maintain tissue processing machines on a daily basis.

To make up solutions of dyes and chemicals as required.

To clean work-surfaces and equipment as necessary.

Specific duties: Cytology laboratory

Following training and subject to competence checking and monitoring; prepare cytology samples as required.

Maintain staining machines on a daily basis.

Book in samples as required.

Attend clinics within the hospital to prepare slides from FNA procedure

Maintain consumable stock levels.

Specific duties: IHC laboratory

Following training and subject to competence checking and monitoring : to load prepared slides onto the Ventana Ultra IHC machines

To clean work-surfaces and equipment as necessary.

Maintain stock levels on machines and in fridges

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific duties: Cut-up room

To unpack Histology samples, checking details on request form and pot to ensure that sample data is correct. To attach consecutively numbered bar code labels to the form and pot.

To set out numbered specimens ready for cut up and prepare the appropriate type and number of tissue processing cassettes.

To book in the samples onto the laboratory computer system.

To assist the Consultant Pathologist or Biomedical Scientist with the process of cut-up by taking an accurate dictation of specimen description, dimensions, number of pieces etc.

To enter data onto the computer system and generate slide labels which are attached to the forms.

To reject specimens which do not conform to acceptable requirements, contacting sender or returning them to sender and monitoring the action taken and date and time of return to the laboratory.

To dispose of tissue by checking and recording on Winpath as per protocol.

To collect specimens from specimen reception regularly throughout the day in conjunction with work colleagues.

To provide backup assistance in the Histology laboratory if required.

Specific duties: General Histology laboratory

To place cases slides together, with corresponding request card, prior to these being checked out of the lab.

To trim excess wax from tissue blocks and sort into batches ready for sectioning.

To monitor stock levels of consumables within the laboratory and notify the Lead BMS when ordering is necessary.

To collect specimens from specimen reception regularly throughout the day in conjunction with work colleagues.

To dispose of formalin fixed tissues and wash and re-fill formalin pots.

To file slides and tissue blocks.

To archive slides and blocks where required

To maintain laboratory stocks of formalin, formalin pots and solvents by transfer from the storage bunker. To transport waste solvents from the laboratory to the bunker if required.

To receive deliveries of solvents as necessary.

To empty clinical waste bins, transferring bags and containers to the appropriate site.

To collect laboratory coats for laundering and take to the laundry

To maintain the staining machine on a daily basis by emptying used reagents, cleaning containers and re-filling with fresh reagents.

To undertake general housekeeping duties as required.

To provide backup assistance in the Cut-up room if required.

To carry out such monitoring as is required, e.g. temperatures, formaldehyde levels, airflows etc.

To send away blocks and slides for second opinion as required.

To maintain tissue processing machines on a daily basis.

To make up solutions of dyes and chemicals as required.

To clean work-surfaces and equipment as necessary.

Specific duties: Cytology laboratory

Following training and subject to competence checking and monitoring; prepare cytology samples as required.

Maintain staining machines on a daily basis.

Book in samples as required.

Attend clinics within the hospital to prepare slides from FNA procedure

Maintain consumable stock levels.

Specific duties: IHC laboratory

Following training and subject to competence checking and monitoring : to load prepared slides onto the Ventana Ultra IHC machines

To clean work-surfaces and equipment as necessary.

Maintain stock levels on machines and in fridges

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good standard of education to at least GCSE level.
NVQ 2 or above in Laboratory and associated technical activities or equivalent.
Willing to undertake any necessary in-house training required

Desirable

Good spoken and written English.

Experience

Essential

Has experience of working in a laboratory and has practical experience of performing regular routine laboratory investigations.

Desirable

NHS laboratory experience.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good standard of education to at least GCSE level.
NVQ 2 or above in Laboratory and associated technical activities or equivalent.
Willing to undertake any necessary in-house training required

Desirable

Good spoken and written English.

Experience

Essential

Has experience of working in a laboratory and has practical experience of performing regular routine laboratory investigations.

Desirable

NHS laboratory experience.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

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