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Health Sciences: join our laboratory teams

A picture of a pathology staff member

From analysing samples in our laboratories to helping to deliver blood transfusions … hospitals and NHS services depend completely on the skills of pathology teams. Biomedical scientists investigate a huge range of clinical conditions from blood disorders to cancer, and monitor the effects of medication and treatment. Without them there’d be no blood tests, operations couldn’t go ahead, and trauma services would falter.

Here at Swansea Bay, we also offer healthcare science and biomedical science graduates fantastic further training opportunities in not one but three specialties – biochemistry, haematology, and blood transfusion. So you can really grow your multi-disciplinary expertise with us.

About our services

Laboratory Sites

A picture of blood tests Laboratory Medicine includes multi-discipline laboratories at Morriston and Singleton hospitals in Swansea and the Princess of Wales Hospitals in Bridgend. We have a hub and spoke model, where Morriston Hospital is the central hub, and where the bulk of the routine work is processed, and Singleton and the Princess of Wales hospitals function as the spokes where clinically urgent work is processed.

We have laboratories based at:

  • A picture of Morriston Hospital Morriston Hospital
    • Central Specimen Reception – main reception and sendaways. Where samples are received into the laboratory and also where we send samples away to other laboratories.
    • Biochemistry – huge repertoire of tests ranging from those that assess kidney, liver and endocrine function, therapeutic drug monitoring, those that assess nutritional states. 24/7 service
    • Haematology and Routine Coagulation – tests includes to assess blood status (i.e. anaemia and other blood disorders) and other tests for infectious mononucleosis, malaria and leukaemia classification. 24/7 service
    • Blood Transfusion – tests include blood grouping and antibody investigations and blood compatibility testing for provision of blood components for routine and emergency situations. 24/7 service
    • Specialist Services
      • Special Analytical Techniques – tests include myeloma diagnosis and monitoring, HbA1c analysis for diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes, xanthochromias and red cell enzyme screening
      • Immunology – tests include various autoimmune diseases and allergies  
      • Special Coagulation and Haemoglobinopathies – tests include Factor Assays and screens for patient with bleeding disorders, tests to monitor the effectiveness of anti-coagulation drugs, screening and diagnosis of patients with abnormal haemoglobins.
  • An image of Singleton Hospital with a rainbow above it. Singleton Hospital 
    • Joint Automation Laboratory – haematology, routine coagulation, blood transfusion and biochemistry. Smaller repertoire of tests that are associated with critical patient management. 24/7 service
    • Specimen Reception. Where samples are received into the laboratory and transported to Morriston
    • Specialist Services
      • Cellular Haematology – tests include immunophenotyping for various leukaemias and other blood related cancers
  • A picture of POWH Princess of Wales Hospital  
    • Joint Automation Laboratory – haematology, routine coagulation, blood transfusion and biochemistry.Smaller repertoire of tests that are associated with critical patient management. 24/7 service  
    • Specimen Reception.Where samples are received into the laboratory and transported to Morriston
    • Specialist Services
      • Toxicology – tests include drugs of abuse screening and confirmations, porphyria screening, xanthochromias

We also have Phlebotomy services at all sites and at Neath and Port Talbot Hospital. We also have Point of Care Services (i.e. near patient testing) at all sites, with the primary base being at Princess of Wales.

Who are we?

Laboratory teams

Our Laboratory teams consists of the following roles:

  • Consultant Pathologists in Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology
  • Consultant Clinical Scientists
  • Senior Laboratory Managers including Service Delivery and Quality Managers
  • Clinical Scientists
  • Trainee Clinical Scientists
  • Senior Biomedical Scientists
  • Training Team – lead training manager and a small team of training managers
  • Biomedical Scientists – newly qualified and specialists
  • Trainee Biomedical Scientists
  • Associate Practitioners
  • Biomedical Science Support Worker
  • Phlebotomists
  • Medical Secretaries
  • General Administrative Support Team
  • Research & Development Team

We're about 300 strong, and our team works cohesively across all sites where all staff groups interact on a daily basis.

Every team has an important role within the department and it’s the combined efforts of all that ensures we provide the best service to our patients.

Training

Learning and development opportunities our training team supports

  • Rotation of staff across the multidiscipline areas and sites
  • Completion and maintenance of statutory and mandatory training including induction and health & safety training
  • IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part I and II
  • IBMS Registration Portfolio (required to gain HCPC registration)
  • IBMS Specialist Portfolio (required to progress to Band 6 BMS positions)
  • MScs (required to progress into management roles)
  • FRCPath Part I and II (required for progression as to a Senior Clinical Scientist)
  • Manage University placements for students undertaking Healthcare Science Degrees from Cardiff Metropolitan University

In additon, the training team also:

  • Tries source funding for top up modules (required to convert unaccredited degrees into IBMS accredited degrees)
  • Organises Continued Professional Learning (CPD) events – CPD is mandatory for all HCPC registered staff.
  • Supports staff undertaking the National School of Healthcare Sciences Scientist Training Programme (STP)
  • Supports completion of NEBOSH qualifications
  • Supports work experience placements and honorary contracts
  • Supports completion of higher specialist qualifications such as diploma of expert practice, diploma of extended practice, higher specialist diploma, certificate of extended practice and certificate of biomedical practice
  • Manages opportunities for staff to attend user group meetings, seminars, working groups and other activities.

Helping our staff learn, train and develop their skills is very important to us. We're here to support you with your career.

To find out more

To find out more, contact Ruth.evans2@wales.nhs.uk 

Go here to see our latest range of Health Sciences vacancies and apply online now

Swansea Bay - Where you belong

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.

We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.