Phlebotomy roles from Your World. Make an impact on healthcare through precise blood samples & patient care.
From Accident and Emergency to general wards or outpatients’ facilities, phlebotomists are in demand across the healthcare sector.
These clinical support workers undertake vital activities in the diagnosis journey. Taking blood samples from patients is the main job of a phlebotomist, and these are then used to diagnose diseases and other conditions.
Your World Healthcare specialises in placing candidates into roles to suit each person and their individual needs. Browse through our range of locum, full and part-time roles across the UK now to find your next career move.
A phlebotomist specialises in the taking of blood samples to help diagnose illnesses in patients – an essential role in the diagnostic process.
As part of a multi-disciplinary team, these professionals ensure that the blood sample is taken in a safe way, with as little discomfort to the patient as possible. They must then see that it is delivered to the laboratory intact to make sure that the results are as accurate as possible. The results will inform a patient’s treatment plan, so the speed and accuracy of the sample and testing must be first-rate.
Training includes theory and practical work on how to take blood from potentially vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. It also covers the multiple ways to take blood and how to do this safely.
People in this profession deal with a huge variety of patients across a multitude of departments, depending on which illness or disease is being treated. Phlebotomists could be working with outpatients or in A&E, with nurses, GPs or biomedical scientists, depending on their experience and their planned career development. They may even visit patients in their homes or at residential or care facilities.
Phlebotomy training courses cover the essentials of the profession, and trainees are often taught on the job. Although you do not have to have any specific courses under your belt to become a trainee phlebotomist, most employers usually ask for two GCSEs as a minimum entry requirement or a vocational qualification like a BTEC in health or social care.
Having some voluntary or related work behind you is a definite advantage if you are entering this career. Health or social care work, for example, would be a great addition to your CV.
There are other paths to phlebotomy. You could work initially as a healthcare assistant and then be trained in taking blood, or there are healthcare apprenticeships that could give you the experience you need to apply to become a trainee phlebotomist.
This role isn’t just about the qualifications, though. You’ve got to be hands-on with patients, as well as caring and compassionate with regard to their circumstances. Patients can often feel frightened when having their blood sample taken, so you’ll need to be able to communicate what the process is and set their minds at ease.
You also have to be on the ball with your observational and organisational skills, as this job requires extensive recording of the correct samples to send to the lab. A phlebotomist is also responsible for filing accurate patient records.
When you’ve gained the first level of training, you might also be able to progress further in the sector with a Diploma in Blood Donor Support or other similar qualifications. If you become a member of the National Association of Phlebotomists or the Institute of Biomedical Science, you may be able to take advantage of their training courses and conferences to further your knowledge and qualifications in the sector.
A phlebotomist’s salary can vary between £15,100 and £17,800 per annum. They work an average of 37.5 hours a week, but both pay and hours will likely differ if you chose to take a locum phlebotomy job.
There is ongoing demand for phlebotomists, and with a locum position, you could be helping hospitals and healthcare centres that really need extra support. You could also benefit from the flexible hours and better pay in areas where the demand for phlebotomists is higher. Though there are challenges and downsides to a locum role, such as a lack of parental leave, you could fit your hours around your lifestyle.
Search Your World Healthcare now to find your perfect phlebotomist job. With nationwide positions in locum, part-time and full-time roles across multiple specialities, you’re sure to find your next big career move here today.