Anatomical Pathology Technician

We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Anatomical Pathology Technician to join our team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. As a key member of our mortuary team, you will play a vital role in supporting the post-mortem examination service and ensuring the highest standards of patient care.

• Provide support to the mortuary service, ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with nationally accepted standards.
• Deal with direct and indirect enquiries or telephone calls, demonstrating sensitivity and empathy when interacting with distressed relatives.
• Enter and retrieve patient information using the laboratory computer system, ensuring accurate and timely data entry.
• Admit and release deceased from the hospital or community, performing physical body checks and administrative tasks as required.
• Ensure adequate identification of the body is maintained at all times, completing body checks and undressing deceased as necessary.
• Carry out day-to-day monitoring, cleaning, and maintenance of mortuary equipment, ensuring that all facilities are safe and functional.
• Record keeping is essential, so ensure accurate records are maintained for temperature monitoring charts, cleaning schedules, and capacity lists.
• Assist in the receipt and control of consumables, adhering to all departmental standard operating procedures, policies, and health and safety regulations.
• Transfer samples to the Pathology department, following established procedures for the use of caution cards and informing external users of potential risks of infection.
• Remove ICDs and pacemakers, arrange for ICD deactivation, and assist with fingerprinting of the deceased.
• Record and store any drugs received, facilitate doctors completing cremation paperwork, and accept/record POCs into the department for disposal.
• Check the generic email account for PM instructions, release paperwork, NOK statements, and other communication from the Coroners Office and other external users.
• Arrange delivery of hospital notes for Coroners cases and return after post-mortem, receive, store, and return ED admission notes where EZnotes is not available.
• Book appointments for viewings and identifications of deceased, speaking directly to bereaved families and friends of the deceased patient.
• Facilitate transfers across, including bodies for PM/collection, and ensure that all accidents/incidents occurring within the area of working are reported via Datix in a timely manner and in accordance with Trust Policies.
• Manoeuvre, transfer, and lift bodies using the equipment provided, occasionally manoeuvring, transferring, and lifting bariatric bodies with the use of the hydraulic hoist and Patslide.
• Perform any other duties covered by the post holder's competencies after consultation and agreement with the line manager.
• Use the Tutela system to monitor fridge temperatures, act on alarm calls received, and log in to the website to sign off alarm calls.
• Undertake office-based work, including answering the phone, responding to emails, and sending faxes, and expedite releases by contacting funeral directors and Coroners officers.

We are looking for an individual with previous experience in working with the general public, ideally on a one-to-one basis. Previous experience in a profession allied to medicine or working with the bereft is also desirable.

The successful candidate will hold education equivalent to 4 GCSEs, including mathematics and English subjects at Grade 4 or above. Previous experience of working in a mortuary or funeral directors in any capacity is also desirable.