NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.
The role:
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced or trainee Cytoscreener (Annex 21) to join the Cytology Department within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
This vacancy post is for an experienced Cytoscreener, if selected for a trainee Cyptosceener, you will be on Annex 21 for a percentage of 2 year training period.
The Pathology Department provides a comprehensive analytical and Consultant led clinical Histopathology, Cytology and Postmortem service to clinicians working within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and other Health Boards. The workload comprises up to 215,000 HPV & 90,000 LBC cervical screening requests p.a. and more that 20,000 non-gynaecological cytopathology (including semenology) investigations.
The centralised Pathology Department within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHS GGC) is located within a purpose-built laboratory at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).
Applicants interested in the Cytoscreener post must hold the City & Guilds Diploma in Cervical Cytology or an appropriate Certificate in Cervical Screening recognised by the NHSCSP, have previous experience in interpretation of cervical smears and knowledge of NHSCSP/SCSP guidelines, and have evidence of successful participation in Cervical Cytology EQA Scheme.
Applicants interested in the trainee Cytoscreener post must be qualified to HNC/SVQ 3 level in a relevant science subject, have previous relevant experience as a Healthcare Science Support Worker and knowledge of preparation of cervical cytology tests, and be committed to study and attain the NHSCSP Diploma in Cervical Cytology or an appropriate Certificate in Cervical Screening recognised by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP).
All other roles will be assessed for sponsorship eligibility in line with current Home Office requirements. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) can only issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) where these are met.
Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:
- Location based in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
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Permanent Contract
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Full-time position (36 hours per week), part-time and job share will be considered
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Shift pattern for this post are Monday to Friday, core hours are 09:00-17:00, rotational cover Saturday & Public holidays 08:00-12:00
Key responsibilities:
The post holder will : -
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Undertake the duties which correspond to those required of a Cytology Screener, under the supervision of HCPC registered BMS staff
- Participate in the screening and analysis of Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) Cervical Smears.
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Provide the support skills to aid in the delivery of patient material in a suitable form for screening and or diagnostic purposes as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment.
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Rotate through all sections of the laboratory requiring a range of tasks and practices e.g. specimen reception, data entry, HPV/LBC specimen processing, reagent preparation, archiving.
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Work under supervision and with other staff to deliver the service to the standards set.
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Provide training and mentoring for less experienced staff in relevant processes and skills relating to service delivery.
Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:
Cytoscreener
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The post holder will hold the City & Guilds Diploma in Cervical Cytology (Level 3) or an appropriate Certificate in Cervical Screening recognised by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) and will successfully participate in the ongoing post certification externally certified Interpretive Assessment Component of the NHS Scotland Cervical Cytology EQA Scheme.
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Experience of screening is required prior to acquiring the above qualifications through the appropriate external examination.
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Basic numeracy, literacy and keyboard skills.
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Good organisation and time management skills.
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Knowledge of departmental protocols and all relevant mandatory and statutory Codes of Practice.
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Evidence of ongoing CPD supporting the appropriate Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) Outline to maintain competence to practice.
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Basic knowledge of IT systems and in particular the laboratory computing system and procedures.
What we offer:
We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.
As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:
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A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
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Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
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Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
- Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
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Enhanced pay for working public holidays
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NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
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Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion, please contact:
Suzanne Ferrá, Pathology Operations Manager, On 0141 354 9469 or email [email protected]
Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates
This post may close early due to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible.
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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.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.
By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.
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