Develop your career with HCA Healthcare UK – The world’s largest private hospital group and winners of ‘The Best Private Healthcare Provider 2016.’

HCA Laboratories has over 35 years’ experience in providing pathology services, for acute care in our HCA Hospitals, IVF Clinics, Insurance work, healthcare screening and GP services.

We have a number of sites within central London, with the main locations at Wimpole Street and Shropshire House. We have further laboratories at The London Bridge Hospital, Leaders in Oncology Care, Harley Street and The Platinum Medical Centre with further planned development inside the London area.

We cover all disciplines in pathology including allergy, biochemistry and endocrinology, haematology and blood transfusion, histopathology and cytology, immunology, and microbiology and serology, with each laboratory equipped with the best available analytical instrumentation.

Job Description

•This post requires working shifts to cover 8am to 8.30pm, and will involve rotating between Microbiology and Serology departments.
•Processing of clinical Microbiology samples including urines, swabs, sputa, faeces, fluids and fungal isolates onto culture media and preparing slides for microscopy.
•Processing serum samples for storage, separating serum for referral sites
•Assist BMS’s in performing the analytical functions of the service.

Duties & Responsibilities

•Receive samples

•Ensure correct samples received for tests required and query and problems identified

•Process clinical Microbiology samples including urines, swabs, sputa, faeces, fluids
and fungal isolates onto culture media and microscopy where required

•Complete maintenance and disinfection/ cleaning routines

•Loading and unloading of culture plates from incubators

•Set up defined diagnostic tests

•Assist BMS’s in performing the analytical functions of the service

•Stock control and unpacking deliveries

•Sample storage

•Serum separation

•Machine maintenance

•Work independently and as part of a team

•Answer telephone enquiries

•Respond to Temperature Monitoring System (Tuela) alarms and record findings

•Attend mandatory HCA training

Skills & Experience

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
•Good Level of Education – A’ Level equivalent in science subject

•Previous laboratory experience is desirable, but not essential

•Knowledge of computer systems is desirable, but not essential

•Develop and understanding health and safety principles and procedure for Laboratories.

PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY
•Organising workload to maximise effciency
•Prioritising samples and tests needing urgent attention
•Dealing with queries

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
•Communication with Consultants, Clients and hospital staff
•Liasing with BMS within depts. And other sections of the laboratory

RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY
•Compliance with protocols, policies and procedures
•Handling biological fluids
•Accurate transcription of requests from all sources into Meditech computer
•Maintain confidentiality
•Maintain adequate stocks of reagents and consumables
•Work unsupervised within the department
•Health and safety of self and others
•Compliance with infection control procedures

SKILLS AND EFFORT
•Effective communication
•Teamwork
•Flexibility
•High level of concentration
•Work effectively under pressure
•Understand and follow health and safety polices and procedures and risk assessments.
•Maintain current awareness through document acknowledgment on Q Pulse.

WORKING CONDITIONS
•Work with biological fluids
•Working to tight schedules
•Demanding client requirements

About The Individual

The successful candidate will possess a high level of concentration, precision and accuracy, ensuring that all results are returned with accurate information in a timely manner. They will have the ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining a high level of accuracy and encourage others to do the same. Finally, they will have a customer focused attitude at all times, working with the team to ensure their processes are efficient and effective.