Job description

Overall Job Purpose: To assist in the daily running of the laboratory section to which you have been assigned within the Pathology Department. To assist in the performance of the routine diagnostic analytical work of the department as directed. To provide general support in other areas of the Laboratory. The post holder will be required to work within any section of the department, including core and unsocial hours as required.

Main Duties: Reception Duties To book patient details and test requests on the pathology computer system. To receive specimens for investigations and prepare specimens for laboratory testing according to defined protocols. To ensure that specimen and request form details are correct and discuss ambiguous test requests with senior scientists or clinicians. To answer enquiries from health care professionals at the hospital, in the community and patients, regarding the specimen type, processing state and expected time frames for laboratory investigations.

To give authorised results to relevant health care professionals. To divert calls to the appropriate sections of the department. To exercise courtesy when dealing with enquiries over the phone or face-to-face, providing information within defined protocols, recognising own professional boundaries. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

Reception staff are the first point of contact for complaints by healthcare professionals and patients. To manage departmental mail including receipt and dispatch of test results and patient specimens. To print, sort and copy reports as required. To package biological samples for testing at external centres in accordance with handling regulations for biohazard materials.

To avoid contamination with infectious materials, reporting any leakages to senior staff and strictly following the departmental Health and Safety Rules. To order stock for reception area, when given the delegated responsibility. Stock and waste management and daily housekeeping To prepare laboratory reagents, including hazardous chemicals, using protective equipment and precision pipetting where required. To safely dispose of infective and high risk wastes by according to written procedures To undertake routine cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment and benches.

To replace stocks of consumables and reagents when required and inform the Section Leader if back-up stocks are low. Scientific and TechnicalUnder supervision of registered scientists: To prepare samples for a wide range of tests. To participate when required in laboratory bench work or automated analysis following standard operating procedures To communicate any difficulties, accidents or incidents to a section leader promptly. To enter test results on pathology computer system.

To assist in the evaluation of new equipment and advise the Pathology Lead or scientific staff on the need for new equipment and maintenance of existing equipment. To observe the departmental quality control policies. To assist when required in the preparation of documentation for accreditation. To participate in all rosters as required.