Medical Laboratory Aide, University Hospital

Details of Service

Six Health Regions have been established within the HSE, on the basis of the geographical boundaries agreed by the Government in July 2019.

Each Health Region will be tasked with population-specific planning resourcing and delivery of health and social care services for the needs of its unique population. This will result in improved accountability and governance in terms of finance and performance, while also bringing decision-making closer to the frontline.

Health Regions will enable and empower staff to provide services that are:

· Integrated, locally planned and delivered

· Easier to access and navigate

· Available closer to home

Health Regions are geographically-based units with clearly defined populations. They align community and hospital services within specific areas. The HSE will retain a strong but leaner central organisation, with more service provision developed at a local level.

The HSE South West Health Region will manage and deliver all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry. HSE South West includes all hospital and community healthcare services in the region.

This includes:

· South / South West Hospital Group S/SWHG

· Cork Kerry Community Healthcare CKCH

The Department of Population and Public Health is also now aligned with this health region.

HSE Services working within this region include:

· Acute Hospitals

· Primary care services

· Community services

· Social care services

· Health and social care professionals

· Voluntary sector services

The Point of Care Testing Department consists of a team of Medical Scientists (Chief and Senior Medical Scientists) supported by a Senior Biomedical Engineer. Clinical Governance for the POCT service is provided through the Hospitals POCT Steering Group and is Chaired by a Hospital Consultant.

The Department provides services to CUH and Cork University Maternity Hospital. Services are to be expanded to include the Surgical Hub at CUH and POCT Services in the Community.

The POCT Department provides the following POCT services:

· Blood Gas

· Glucose and Ketones

· Molecular Detection of Respiratory Viruses (SARS-Co-V2; FluA/B, RSV)

· HbA1c

· Renal Function (Creatinine/eGFR)

The overall workload is 436,000 samples per year (2M Tests).

POCT is a rapidly expanding area of diagnostics as there is more and more reliance on POCT to generate quick, high-quality results, particularly as technology improves. The POCT Department is therefore constantly growing/evolving and is always at the forefront in adaptation of new and innovative technologies to address user needs and expectations. It would be expected that all staff would engage with and embrace such new technologies. Plans are in place to introduce Urinalysis (Urine Dipstick and Urine Pregnancy) and Coagulation Services (TEG/Rotem).

The Department has strong educational links with the MTU Biological Sciences Department and is involved in teaching Students of Biomedical Science. The Department promotes collaborative research work with clinical colleagues. The POCT Department maintains a Quality Management System which is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board against Standard ISO15189:2022.

Purpose of the Post

To work under supervision in the POCT Department to ensure continuity of service

by performing appropriate assigned tasks using established procedures for which training has been provided.

Informal Enquiries

We welcome enquiries about the role.

Contact Mark Butler, Chief Medical Scientist CUH

Email: mark.butler@hse.ie

Phone: 021 492 0262

For further information about the role.

Contact Shauna Broderick, Staff Officer, People SouthWest

Email:shauna.broderick@hse.ie

Tel: 087 4370269

For enquiries relating to the recruitment process.