Healthcare Science Assistant

Main area 317 Microbiology - Corporate Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

Employer The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Freeman Hospital Town 317 01 Freeman Hospital Salary £25,272 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 20/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 04/11/2026

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.

With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, w e’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.

As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus.

Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

The Microbiology and Virology Services Department is looking to recruit enthusiastic individuals to join the dynamic team as a Healthcare Science Assistant.

Healthcare Science Assistants process a wide range of clinical samples and enter data onto the laboratory computer system (LIMS). Other duties include answering telephones, reception duties, handling reports and discarding of laboratory waste.

• Interview Date: 4th & 6th November 2026
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week (Part time hours also available)

• To ensure samples are processed correctly according to departmental SOPs
• Ensure that samples arriving in the laboratory are checked and correctly input into LIMS system to ensure patient safety
• Courteously and professionally answer telephone calls from a variety of service users including GPs. Give out authorised results and transfer calls as appropriate to ensure efficiency
• Ensure stocks of reagents are maintained and that the work section is always clean and tidy

Applicants need to have a positive approach and be flexible to assist in all sections of the department as required to meet workflow. Good communication skills are essential. Previous experience of working in a clinical microbiology/virology department is desirable.

The successful applicant will be expected to participate in late shifts, weekend and Bank Holiday working once suitably trained.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the…