Medical Laboratory Assistant, Microbiology - The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow
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Job Title: Medical Laboratory Assistant
Department: Microbiology
Location: The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, CM20 1QX
Contract /Hours: Permanent, Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Salary range: Up to £25,800 per annum DOE
About us: Sonic Healthcare is an internationally renowned healthcare provider with a demonstrable track record of medical services across the world. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Sonic is an ASX Top 50 company that has grown to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers, specialising in pathology, radiology and primary care medical centres. We have operations in Australia, the USA, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand. Sonic Healthcare UK encompasses the two main entities in the UK, The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) and Health Services Laboratories (HSL). HSL is a partnership between TDL, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH). HSL was formed to provide pathology services to the NHS Trusts and has expanded further to provide services to other NHS Trusts. Over 3,500 staff work at Sonic Healthcare UK, primarily under the TDL or HSL banner. Our purpose is to deliver medically-led diagnostics, innovation, value and long-term investment to healthcare. With our core laboratory based at The Halo Building in London WC1H 9AX, we also have an expanding site in Manchester as well as smaller hospital-based laboratories across the country. We maintain rigorously high standards of quality, whilst also delivering efficiencies to healthcare through careful workforce planning, pioneering technology and significant investment in infrastructure and IT.
About the role: A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) in our Microbiology Department based at Princess Alexandra Harlow Hospital. As part of the commissioning of the Hertfordshire and West Essex (HWE) Pathology service HSL will establish a new hub laboratory based at 7 Croxley Park, Watford. This newly developed hub laboratory will provide pathology testing across a range of disciplines including Sample Reception, Biochemistry, Haematology, Routine Coagulation and Microbiology. It is an expectation that Microbiology staff based within the PAH hospital site will transfer across to either the new hub at Croxley Park when this becomes operational in 2026 or the Halo hub lab located in Kings Cross, London. The role will involve performing routine preparation and tests, including basic analytical processes, accurately and efficiently under the supervision of a qualified BMS staff, bringing any unusual test requests or results to the attention of the appropriate member of staff. The successful candidate will also be required to enter patient requests into the pathology computer system (WinPath and Helix) and carry out clerical and technical tasks in accordance with sample handling procedures. Staff will be required to assist in handling and distribution of incoming and outgoing goods, equipment, specimens and reagents as well as managing the laboratory users Helpdesk. The laboratory operates a 24/7 service so the successful candidate will be expected to participate in shifts to cover this timeframe and to manage all on‑site testing of acutely unwell patients for COVID.
Benefits:
* Training and development opportunities supporting professional development
* Annual salary review – No banding restrictions: As we are a private company we are not restricted by salary bandings and so are able to negotiate appropriate salaries based on experience. This also means that annual salary reviews do not hit a band ceiling.
* Discounted gym membership via Better Gyms
* Cash healthcare plan – cash back on a variety of healthcare costs including dentist and opticians
* Sick Pay Entitlement – 5 paid days in the first year of employment, 20 days thereafter
* Permanent Health Insurance and Death in Service Cover
* Life Assurance providing salary continuation for long‑term illness (six months qualifying period)
* Employee Assistance Programme supporting staff wellbeing
* Season Ticket Loan Scheme – interest free loan for the cost of annual travel ticket
* Perkbox – Access to additional staff perks and benefits such as high‑street discounts
* Company Pension Scheme – contributions increase with service
* Competitive annual leave allowance – 28 days
* Flexible working hours – we support and offer flexibility around shift patterns and working schedule
Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure that your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required. We respect and value the diversity of our staff and welcome applications from diverse communities.
PLEASE NOTE: WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS VACANCY AT ANY TIME EVEN IF A CLOSING DATE IS SHOWN HERE OR IN ANY OTHER MEDIA
Vacancy ID : 036047 Closing Date : 14-Nov-2025
Contact Person : Ricardo Davis
Contact Email : LNKD1_UKTJ
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