POCT Specialist Biomedical Scientist – Labs & Innovation

Nhsscotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job description

Overview

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.

We anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications are received. Please complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is granted by the UK Visas and Immigration Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

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Important guidance for applicants

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part-time hours will be reduced pro-rata. Please note that the pay scale in this advert will not be changing as a result.

Department and Role

Department of Laboratory Medicine – Point of Care Testing

Band 6 Biomedical Scientist

Applications are invited from suitably experienced and motivated individuals to fill the new role of Point of Care Testing (POCT) HCPC registered Specialist Biomedical Scientist for NHS Lothian.

Role and Responsibilities

Working across all NHS Lothian sites, with a base in the Edinburgh Bio Quarter, the role will support the POCT Manager with an increasing number and widening scope of POCT activities across Lothian, providing a link between the POCT manager, the POCT team and the service users from a technical, scientific and service improvement perspective.

The Lothian Point of Care covers Primary and Secondary care sites. There are four acute hospitals: Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Western General Hospital, St John’s Hospital which house the bulk of the equipment and operators. The candidate will also be expected to work at the secondary care sites such as Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Royal Edinburgh hospital, East Lothian community hospital, Ellen’s Glen House amongst others.

There is a wide range of equipment currently including but not limited to Biochemistry (Glucose/Ketone, HbA1c), Virology Respiratory Rapid tests (Cepheid, Liat), Haematology Viscoelastic testing (Rotem) as well as new expanding areas such as Genetic testing.

This is a new and exciting post to support and improve the development, governance and effectiveness of POCT in NHS Lothian.

We are looking for a forward-thinking individual who will be able to take on a challenging and stimulating role.

Qualifications and Requirements

Please note that HCPC registration and having a driving licence are essential for the multisite element of this post and failure to note this on the application form could result in your application failing to be shortlisted.

Pay and Trainees Annex 21

1. up to 12 months prior to completion of training: 75 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.
2. more than one but less than two years prior to completion of training: 70 per cent of the pay band maximum of the qualified rate.
3. more than two but less than three years prior to completion of training: 65 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate.
4. more than three years from completion of training: 60 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.

For further guidance on Annex 21 – please follow this link: Annex 21 – Arrangements for pay and banding of trainees

Contact

For further information on this post please contact Gordon Marr, [e-mail]