An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technologist (Band 4) to join our well-established mortuary team of 3 qualified APT’s and 1 ATO,

Some knowledge / understanding of the HTA and of H&S within the mortuary environment is desirable, as is a keen eye for detail and accurate record keeping.

The successful applicant will be enrolled on the Royal Society for Public Health course of Anatomical Pathology Technology after a probationary period, this course is run annually and works towards achieving the level 3 diploma. The course takes approximately 2 years and involves participation in 5 online theory modules with set assignments followed by examinations. There are also 5 practical assessments which will be based on portfolioa of evidence and competencies completed in the work place while working towards the Level 3 qualification awarded by the RSPH.

The main responsibilities of the post while working towards their qualification will be to carry out under close supervision a full range of mortuary duties including receipt of the deceased, postmortem examinations, identifications / viewings, and release of the deceased for all hospital and community deaths. Other work will involve liaising closely with a variety of services / people including Bereaved families, Police, Pathologist’s, Medical Examiner officers, bereavement officers, funeral directors, HM Coroner’s staff, local authority registrars and trust staff.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy department'.

The team deliver an excellent care after death service to the bereaved and their families of both the hospital and local borough community. The staff take pride in the excellent working relationships they have with visiting Funeral Directors, Coronial Officers, and other uses of the mortuary service.

Our main mortuary premises are situated at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary which undertakes the Coronial work for the Wigan Borough, on behalf of H.M.Coroner for Greater Manchester West. There is an additional body storage facility at our sister site at Leigh Infirmary which will require staff to undertake occasional cross site working

On-Call

The department operates an out of hour’s on-call service for H.M. Coroner.

Planning and Organisational Duties
- Work alongside APT’s to receive deceased into the mortuary from the community on behalf of HM Coroner. Including train deaths and deceased that may have been RIP for several weeks /months
- Work alongside APT’s in discharging of deceased patients from the mortuary and across site storage facilities to designated Funeral Directors ensuring dignity and respect is maintained at all times.
- Work in partnership with HM Coroner’s office and associated staff, Funeral Directors, Coroners Removal Service, Trust personnel
- Informs Bereavement Office / MEO office of any additional deaths during the working day preventing a delay in the issuing of relevant paperwork.
- Work alongside APT’s carrying out dignity checks of deceased patients under the care of the mortuary including identification and pacemaker checks.
- Inputs and retrieves patient information onto the Mortuary & Bereavement database recording essential information creating individual records for deceased cared for in the mortuary - including uploading of documentation.
- Work alongside APT’s preparing post-mortem room i.e. setting up instrument packs, necropsy saw etc.
- Assists Pathologists with external examinations of deceased carrying out ID checks and recording of marks and scars.
- Work under the supervision of qualified APT’s to become competent in routine post mortem evisceration procedures.
- Weighs organs and records the information on behalf of the Pathologist.
- Acts as an internal circulator when required for qualified APT’s and Pathologist for the recording of information during specialised post mortem examinations.
- Work under supervision of qualified APT’s to become competent with the full reconstruction of deceased patients following post mortem examinations.
- Works alongside APT’s washing, cleaning and wrapping of deceased in a dignified manner to ensure a high standard of presentation for viewings and transfer to Funeral Directors.
- Completes documentation and prepares appropriate containers for the storage of specimens requiring further examination e.g. histology and toxicology in line with HTA Guidelines.
- Delivers and collects histology samples to/from the trust laboratory.
- Works with APT’s carrying out full cleaning and decontaminating all patient areas in the mortuary.
- Notifies external transport agencies when samples are prepared for transportation on behalf of HM Coroner.
- Assists with the preparation of deceased patients for