Ruth Gordon, Medical Laboratory Supervisor for the Norfolk & Norwich NHS Trust.

Medical Laboratory Assistant

Answers supplied by Ruth Gordon, Medical Laboratory Supervisor for the Norfolk & Norwich NHS Trust at the N&N University Hospital in Colney Lane. The trust provides acute hospital care for a catchment area of up to 750,000 people, employs more than 5,000 people and last year treated more than 500,000 patients.

What does the job entail?
Medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) provide support to biomedical scientists, clinical scientists and medical staff. Main duties include inputting of patient demographics and investigations required into laboratory computer system, labelling and sorting of pathological samples, including blood, urine, CSF, faeces and other fluids. You may also be required to aid the biomedical scientists by loading samples on to equipment used in the analysis of samples. We also deal with the general public, doctors, nurses and porters who bring specimens directly to the department. In addition we are required to answer telephone inquiries.

What skills and qualifications are needed?
There are no standard entry requirements, but to be a medical laboratory assistant, you should be interested in science, particularly biology and chemistry. You need to be efficient, accurate and methodical in your work and be able to concentrate for long periods of time. Keyboard skills are preferred, but not essential. Training for MLAs is mainly on the job. You can work towards achieving vocational qualifications such as NVQ level 2 in Clinical Laboratory Support.

What type of person will fit in?
Someone who works well with others, can work under pressure and has a diligent approach to work. A good sense of humour is also a very good asset to have. The department has both male and female MLAs of all ages, so there are no barriers.

What are the pluses and minuses of the job?
It is a varied job and no day is the same. Each time you come into work you can never be sure of what will happen. It is a very busy job, but worthwhile with job satisfaction and security. There is some evening work along with weekends, including Sundays.

What opportunities exist for career progression?
The post of MLA is not a route to qualifying as a biomedical scientist; however, if a person has suitable motivation and qualifications, they might be encouraged to become a trainee biomedical scientist.

What can I expect to earn?
The current starting salary is £11,494 and the top of the scale is £14,739. Each year you progress, you get an increment on top of yearly cost-of-living raises. These salaries do not vary widely between regions.

Any hints on getting a job in this area?
The best place to look for vacancies is on hospital websites and local papers.