Pathology Specimen Reception Assistant (Band 3) | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	06 February 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£24,937 - £26,598 Pro rata
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	08 March 2026
Location:	Bedford, MK42 9DJ
Company:	Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7749455/418-COR9455-SJ

Summary

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a motivated and detail‑oriented Specimen Receptionist (AFC Band 3) to join the dynamic Blood Sciences team at Bedford Hospital. This role places you at the frontline of a busy diagnostic service, working alongside a dedicated group of enthusiastic professionals who take pride in delivering high‑quality support to patients and clinical teams.

As a key member of the specimen reception team, you’ll play an essential part in ensuring that patient samples are received, processed, and routed accurately and efficiently. Your contribution will help maintain the smooth running of the Blood Sciences Department and support timely, safe, and effective patient care.

The department is committed to your growth. You’ll be encouraged to take part in Continual Personal Development, with access to structured onsite training, opportunities to attend relevant external courses, and hands‑on experience in a fast‑paced laboratory environment.

This position requires 37.5 hours per week, averaged over a 12‑week period, and includes participation in a 7‑day rota once full training and competency have been achieved.

Bedford Hospital is proud to champion equality of opportunity. Applications are warmly welcomed from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities. The team is committed to offering reasonable adjustments, support, and guidance throughout the application and employment process, ensuring an inclusive and welcoming workplace for everyone.

The successful candidate will be expected to
• Receive and dispatch samples to appropriate laboratories.
• Sort and label specimens for blood sciences
• Undertake accurate and precise data entry on laboratory computer system which requires frequent periods of concentration.
• Maintain, process and distribute orders of consumables for GP surgeries
• File and distribute patient reports.
• Organisation of personal workload
• Handle telephone enquiries from service users and where required communicate test results which may be of a complex and/or sensitive nature.
• Participate in mentoring guidance and training of inexperienced/new staff when required.
• Effectively communicate with laboratory and medical staff to ensure that specimens are dealt with appropriately and in a timely fashion.
• Liaise with GP surgeries, hospital clinics and other departments within Pathology.



Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.
• To undertake the reception, identification and processing of pathological samples in the Specimen Reception.
• Sorting and labelling of specimens
• Undertake accurate and precise data entry on laboratory computer system which requires frequent periods of concentration
• Maintenance of stores
• To ensure that GP consumable orders are completed and distributed to GP surgeries.


This advert closes on Friday 20 Feb 2026