MLA - Specimen reception

Full Job Description

Overview

Post Title:

Medical Laboratory Assistant – Specimen Reception

Post Status:

Temporary

Department:

General Pathology Laboratory

Location:

Beaumont Hospital & Affiliated Sites

Reports to:

Directorate Support Manager

Accountable to:

Laboratory Manager

Salary:

Appointment will be made on the Medical Laboratory Aide Scale (€42,033 - €49,050) at a point in line with Government pay policy

Hours of work:

Full-Time, 39 hours

Closing Date:

12.00 Noon on 28/10/2026

Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.

Responsibilities

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

The duties of the Medical Laboratory Assistant include appropriate duties assigned by the line manager. The general duties include, but are not limited to:

• To engage in the logging in, labelling, centrifuging, and separation of specimens. This may require typing skills as logging in may be done via the keyboard of a computer.

• To engage in training as appropriate

• To prepare equipment, culture media and/or reagents as directed by the appropriate scientific laboratory staff.

• To assist Laboratory staff with preparation work for tests.

• Collection, delivery, decontamination, sterilization and washing glassware.

• Monitoring of supplies, stocks and requesting stocks as appropriate.

• Collection and delivery of specimens.

• Filing of specimens, slides, blocks, etc.

• Reception of patient samples for processing which may require electronic receipt, data entry, logging in, labelling, centrifugation, and separation of specimens.

• Manage waste removal from the laboratory

• Check, unpack, label and appropriately store deliveries

• Participate in control of stock and consumables

• Participate in the monitoring and cleaning of equipment

• Perform preparatory scientific tasks as directed by scientific staff

• To assist Laboratory staff with preparation work for tests.

• Collection and delivery of specimens from laboratory reception.

• Logging, preparation and packaging of samples for Referral Laboratories, if required.

• Compliance with ISO15189 and EFI (where applicable) standard during all activities carried Clinical Directorate of Laboratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital

Specific Duties: The specific duties for the post will be assigned by the head of the area to which they have been assigned.

• Agreeing timelines for availability of histological slides and reports prior to site specific MDMs with the MDM Coordinator.

• Using the conference lists via the NCIS oncology system and the Oncology Tumour board, preparation of relevant histology slides and documentation, including re filing of slides post discussion at MDM.

• Notifying supervisor when results will not be available for discussion, maintenance of up to date contact list for MDM coordinators to facilitate this.

• Liaising with MDM co-ordinator / administration office should reports be not available

• Contacting other hospitals regarding retrieval of histopathological material for review at regional MDMs.

• Provide cross functional cover within the histology department to ensure continuity of service.

Quality and Standards

• Maintain current system to allow for timely response to all queries in relation to histological cancer diagnosis for those cancers not collated via cancer data office.

• Help with the introduction and changes to pro formas used to ensure all relevant data is available for safe and comprehensive patient discussion, capturing of outcomes at MDM and availability of outcomes for discussion with the patient.

• Promote timely discussion of cases and minimise unnecessary delays in retrieval of information needed for comprehensive MDM discussion. Communication of any identified concerns to the MDM Co-ordinator

NOTES:

• The range of work allotted to Medical Laboratory Assistants is not exclusive to them and may, at any time, be performed by a member of the Scientific Laboratory Staff / Clerical Staff.

• To perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or such other officer designated by the Beaumont Hospital Board.

• The Board at all times reserves the right to shortlist candidates on the basis of applications or otherwise.

The job description is an outline of the post as it is currently perceived by the hospital and will be subject to review and amendment. This job description will therefore be subject to change in light of the various strategies for the hospital and the development of the Clinical Directorate model and any future developments that arise and will evolve and change over time.

Qualifications

Selection Criteria:

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

• Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc (a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

(i) Have previous experience of work in a hospital laboratory or science laboratory.

Or

(ii) Be currently employed with no less than twelve months experience in the publicly funded Irish Health Service.

Or

(iii) Hold a qualification to minimum standard of Quality & Qualifications

Ireland Level 5 (or higher) in Laboratory Skills.

And

(b) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

Desirable:

• Relevant experience and excellent computer skills.

• MDM liaison experience

• Histology slide retrieval and filing specific knowledge

• Awareness of all Hospital functions

• Typing Skills

If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/ Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.

Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/ Office/ Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.

Please be aware that Beaumont Hospital will never ask candidates to pay money at any stage of the recruitment process. Any requests for payment, bank details, or financial information in connection with a job application should be treated as fraudulent. If you receive such a request claiming to be from Beaumont Hospital, please do not respond and report to the recruitment department immediately

Supplementary information:

The Hospital

www.beaumont.ie

Management Unit:

www.beaumont.ie/hr

Other (Please specify):

Informal Enquiries ONLY to: (Please note NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted via the Informal Email)

Name:

Jennifer O'Neill-Wynne

Title:

Directorate Support Manager

Email address:

jenniferoneillwynne@beaumont.ie

A short listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application. The criteria for ranking and or short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. In the event of a high volume of applications additional shortlisting criteria may be utilised.