Medical Laboratory Assistant

Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services is one of the UK's largest NHS-led pathology networks, supporting multiple hospital Trusts.
Their work is essential to diagnosing illnesses, monitoring treatments, and guiding clinical decisions.
As a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA), you play a key supporting role in keeping laboratory operations running smoothly and safely.
Fast-paced and highly structured Team-oriented, working with scientists, clinicians, and other MLAs
Often shift-based (including evenings, weekends, or nights depending on the lab).
This is a hands-on, entry-level healthcare science role that directly supports patient diagnosis behind the scenes., + Work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver an efficient and effective service to all users of the Pathology Department.
+ Ensure the rapid and timely turnaround of pathology samples by accurately receiving, labelling, and entering specimen information onto the pathology computer system.
+ Contribute to the smooth running of a merged pathology service supporting both The Royal Surrey County Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital.
+ The post holder will be primarily based at Frimley Park Hospital, with occasional duties at The Royal Surrey County Hospital as required.
+ Maintain high standards of organisation, demonstrating efficiency, attention to detail, and effective communication always.
+ Use good keyboard and data-entry skills to support the accurate processing of patient information.
+ Demonstrate reliability, practical ability, and the capacity to work well as part of a team in a busy laboratory environment.
+ Embrace new ways of working and actively participate in developing your knowledge and skills.
+ Engage with training opportunities and make use of the support offered for ongoing career development., + To carry out all procedures required for the preparation and storage of samples, including the use of pipettes to separate components or add solutions as appropriate.
+ Prepare sample containers and ensure adequate stock levels of laboratory consumables are maintained.
+ Operate and maintain relevant laboratory equipment-including centrifuges-used in the preparation and processing of samples and requests.
+ Participate, when required, in performing simple designated tests, including those carried out on Point-of-Care analysers.
+ Assist in the training and induction of new staff members, demonstrating correct procedures and safe working practices.
+ Follow laboratory protocols to identify, manage, and condemn inadequate or mislabelled samples in accordance with departmental policy.
+ Arrange the preparation, packaging, and safe transportation of samples requiring referral to external laboratories for further analysis.
+ Ensure that samples associated with clinical trials are processed, stored, and documented correctly, in line with trial requirements and governance standards.
For more information on the main responsibilities of the role please see attached job description and person specification.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Our new organisational strategy - FHFT 2030 - sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values - Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation - we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.
We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.
We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.
Alongside estates' investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.
Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract.

This position is not suitable for graduates' seeking progression into a Biomedical Scientist role. It is intended for candidates interested in an MLA career rather than using the role as a stepping stone to BMS training.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme.
We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.
Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.
We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.
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