Phlebotomists

Salary: £14.4 – £16.8 per hour

You’ll take blood samples from babies, adults and older people for testing in laboratories.

Your day-to-day duties might include:

* explaining the procedure to patients

* reassuring nervous or distressed patients

* inserting a hypodermic needle and drawing off the blood into a tube

* applying a dressing to the puncture made by the needle

* labelling the blood sample

* delivering the sample to the correct laboratory

* completing records and entering data on a computer

You’ll need:

* good written and spoken communication skills

* empathy, with the ability to put nervous and distressed patients at ease

* practical skills and a steady hand

* the ability to follow instructions and procedures accurately

* the ability to work calmly under pressure

You’ll usually work 37.5 hours a week.

You’ll often need to work shifts including evenings and weekends.

You’ll need to follow strict health and safety procedures when taking and handling blood samples. You’ll need to wear disposable gloves.