Job Advert
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive department situated in one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland.
The Microbiology department is situated at Raigmore Hospital and offers a comprehensive Microbiology service to clinicians throughout the NHS Highland area.
The department has 4 sections:
- Culture (bacterial culture, antibiotic sensitivity, antigen detection), Molecular (bacteria and virus)
- Serology (bacterial and viral serology) and Immunology (allergy and immunity testing).
- The Scottish Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory (STRL)
- The Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-borne infections Reference Laboratory (SLDTRL) are also situated within the department.
You will work alongside Biomedical Scientists and other support staff to support delivery of the Microbiology service. The post is fixed in the Specimen Reception area and involves handling specimen for all sections. Once trained you will join the rota for weekends and public holidays (and an extended working day if the service requires it) as required by the department.
The key purpose of the role is to receive, sort and book-in patients’ specimens and enter patients’ demographic and test details into the laboratory computer system. For requests sent to other laboratories you will be responsible for preparing, packaging and sending away samples.
You will be the first point of contact with laboratory users both by telephone and in person. Other duties will involve collecting and processing laboratory waste, collecting stock from the stores department, maintenance of the stock control system and issuing stock items to laboratory users. In this busy department, the successful candidate must be able to work quickly and with a high degree of accuracy as mistakes may cause incorrect results to be reported.
The role also includes other general laboratory duties according to departmental Standard Operating Procedures. In-house training will be provided in all activities.
Applicants should have a good general education together with good knowledge of data processing and computer packages. You must be able to work quickly and accurately. Previous experience in a medical laboratory and knowledge of medical terminology is an advantage but is not essential.
For potential applicants who may be looking for a change of lifestyle, the Highlands offers the ultimate countryside lifestyle since from Inverness there is easy access to both the Cairngorms, the West Coast of Scotland and the North Coast 500, which is proving very popular due to the outstanding scenery and beautiful sandy beaches along this route.
Informal enquiries to: Dr J. Smullen; Tel: 01463 704206; email: joanne.smullen@nhs.scot or Heather Stephenson; Tel: 01463 704206; email heather.stephenson@nhs.scot.
This is a permanent full-time post of 36 hours working in line with service requirements.
This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa or a Heath and Care Worker visa. NHS Highland is unable to provide candidates with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Resourcing team can be contacted by e-mail nhsh.resourcing@nhs.scot
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
- Effective from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reduced from 37 to 36 hours. Part-time hours will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis. There will be an increase in the hourly rate to ensure that pay remains unaffected.
- Applications are welcome from Gaelic speakers. / Tha fàilte air tagraidhean bho luchd‑labhairt na Gàidhlig.
- You should apply for this post by completing the application process on Jobtrain.
- DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for short listing purposes
- Posts close at midnight on the indicated date
- For help to complete an application on Job Train please follow this link: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/
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NHS Highland is geographically the largest of the 14 regional boards of NHS Scotland, covering an area of 12,500 square miles, across Highland and Argyll & Bute.
We employ over 10,700 people, making us one of the biggest employers in the area. As an organisation, we make a very significant contribution to the local economy.
Our staff are also important members of our communities. Our greatest asset is our workforce, and the way we go about our work comes from the values and behaviours we demonstrate on a daily basis. As a board we strive to ensure the environment is conducive to nurturing a positive culture, supported and delivered through our NHS and social care values.
Care and compassion | Dignity and respect | Openness, honesty and responsibility | Quality and teamwork |
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