Anatomical Pathology Technician

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 25 January 2026

We are looking for a motivated individual to join our team as an Anatomical Pathology Technician. The successful post holder will be required to carry out both routine and advanced post mortem procedures & communicate technical autopsy information to Consultant Pathologists.

You must be capable of effectively applying empathetic and counselling skills when dealing directly with bereaved relatives. Will be routinely required to deal with range of extremely sensitive issues, e.g. explaining post mortem procedures, religious issues etc.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Please note, for Secondment roles before an application is submitted, please ensure you have received the appropriate approval and completed documentation required beforehand, as this may delay the process if an offer was to be made.

• The post holder will carry out post mortem procedures and communicate sensitive and confidential information to the police, coroner's officers, pathնելու pathologists and Trust staff.
• Cleaning & maintaining work environment and equipment, and completion of all required documentation.
• Communicates with funeral directors providing information with respect to the deceased such as body sizes for coffins, date of release of the body.
• Receipt and release of the deceased.
• Explain a range of issues directly to deceased relatives e.g. post-mortem procedure, the Coroner and inquest process, retention of tissue & organs following post mortem etc.

We manage four hospitals at North Tyneside, Cramlington, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres.

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We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.

The post holder will practice as an Anatomical Pathology Technician, working effectively as part of a team providing autopsy and histopathology services to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Police and local Coroners.

The post holder will carry out both routine and advanced post mortem procedures supporting the Consultant Pathologist, Home Office Path Completion pathologist or other visiting Consultant pathologists. CT-PM is due to be introduced routinely to our mortuary service, and we also intend to begin development of advanced roles for APTs.

They will provide support and advice to clinicians, the Coroners Officer, local Funeral Directors and other staff to maintain an efficient mortuary service.

The post holder will ensure that infection control procedures are adhered to at all times, ensuring that instruments, equipment and all work areas are cleaned and sterilized after each post mortem session.

They will carry out Laboratory duties as directed by the Cellular Pathology & Mortuary Service Manager. This will include procedures related to foetal disposal, specimen receipt and processing.

Please refer to the detailed jobłąc description (attached to advert).

• Extensive practical experience in a range of advanced autopsy, reconstruction and infection control procedures.
• Working towards Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science (Anatomical Pathology Technology).

• Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Science (Anatomical Pathology Technology) or Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust