Higher Medical Laboratory OfficerinDewsburyinDewsburyPUBLISHED TUE 11 MAR 2025

An opportunity has arisen for a Trainee MLA or qualified MLA (higher level) to join the Cellular Pathology Team. The Higher MLA role includes undertaking microtomy, embedding, H and E staining and coverslipping.

The Cellular pathology Department at Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals Trust has a workload of 35, 000 Histology requests, 3000 non Gynae and 1000 Andrology samples per annum. The department carries out a full range of diagnostic testing.

For the Trainee role, you are required to undertake the IBMS certificate of achievement part 1 (or equivalent) and complete within 12 months. You must also be able to communicate with staff at all levels clearly and precisely whether working inside or outside of the Pathology Department.

Experience of working in a laboratory, good communication skills, working within a team and independently are essential. You must be flexible and adaptable to change; you must also demonstrate that you have previously worked to strict deadlines.

The post holders will carry out the work as part of the laboratory team under the direct supervision of the BMS staff.

We are looking for skilled candidates to join our team.

Hours of Work: 37.5 Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00 hr

Payscale:AXU 75% of Band 3 until qualified

For more information regarding this advert, or to visit the laboratory, contact Shohaib Banaras on or at

The role of Higher medical Laboratory Officer is to work with associate practitioners, biomedical scientists, expert practitioner, and consultant Pathologists assisting with the Embedding and Microtomy of patient tissue samples.

We are looking for enthusiastic; self-motivated individual with good communication skills who has the ability to work as a team member. You will be required to maintain a high degree of professional standards and adherence to patient confidentiality is paramount. You must be a hardworking and highly motivated individual to join our team.

About us

As a Higher Level Medical Officer you will work as a member of the departmental team and will be expected to:

Perform manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations in specimen preparation for diagnostic testing:

Using a Microtome, to cut sections from tissue from the samples processed to paraffin wax. The section thickness will vary between 2 and 10 millionths of a metre depending upon the tests to be performed and the type of tissue. The numbers of tests to be performed vary according to the type of tissue and clinical details.

To stain sections produced by microtomy manually or using an automated instrument and solve any technical problems with the staining machine as and when they arise.

Mount-stained microscope slides both manually and using an automated coverslipping machine and solve any technical problems with the machine as and when they arise.

To embed and produce wax blocks by manually orientating and manipulating tissue samples in the correct three dimensions for each particular sample, involving tiny fragments of tissue 1 to 2mm in size, and selecting a choice from a range of options.

Carryout appropriate maintenance, checks and fault finding procedures on sophisticated automated equipment.

To work in cooperation with BMS staff to ensure workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.

To notify a senior member of staff if stocks of laboratory consumables fall below agreed levels.

To maintain, clean and change reagents on machines and instruments according to departmental and manufacturer protocols.

To comply with good work practices in accordance with the standards of UKAS ISO 15189 Accreditation.

Maintain a flexible approach to the post in order to manage changes in workload, patterns and requirements i.e. be able to prioritise own and support workers workload/duties. Within the team you may be required to organise the tasks of support workers

Ensure that reagents are prepared, stored, used and disposed of according to manufacturer guidelines, laboratory procedures and current legislation and lawful methods.

Perform routine house cleaning duties

Ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.

To deal with any spillages of noxious and toxic chemicals and bodily fluids according to standard operating procedures.

To take responsibility to resolve day to day issues, e.g. Mislabelled blocks and take corrective action within scope of practice.

You will be required to communicate information, often related to patient management and care, to colleagues, healthcare staff and other organisations.