Assistant Theatre Practitioner

Optegra Eye Health Care; Guildford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary up to £36,225 per annum

Pension contributions

33 days annual leave

SMART working

Training and development

Discounts on retail and activities

Free laser eye treatment and 20% for/f

Private Healthcare

24/7 GP

Counselling

Job summary

Optegra Eye Healthcare is seeking an Assistant Theatre Practitioner to support safe, high-quality surgical care. The role involves scrub duties in minor to intermediate procedures and circulatory duties across the operating list under supervision of a perioperative practitioner.

Key responsibilities include preparing instrumentation, maintaining sterile fields, passing instruments, undertaking surgical counts, and assisting with patient handover and post-operative care as required.

Qualifications

• Relevant ATP qualification.
• Experience of working as ATP.
• Experience in a healthcare environment or ophthalmic sector.

Responsibilities

• Assist in a sterile operating theatre, scrub and circulatory duties for minor to intermediate surgery.
• Prepare, supply and maintain instrumentation and equipment for procedures.
• Ensure sterile field and adherence to AFPP guidelines and Optegra policy.
• Assist with patient handover to recovery staff with appropriate information.

Skills

ATP qualification

ATP experience

Healthcare/Ophthalmic experience

Job description

Company Overview

Optegra Eye Healthcare has been proudly recognised as one of 115 Best Big Places to Work 2025 as awarded by the Sunday Times. We are committed to creating an exceptional working environment where our people thrive. Join us and be part of a team that values your growth, wellbeing, and contribution every step of the way.

Benefits

Some of the benefits of working for us include, but are by no means limited to:

• Generous salary which is reviewed annually. This role pays up to £36,225 per annum dependent on experience
• Generous matched pension contributions
• 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• SMART working schemes - because we believe in work life balance
• Funded training and development - because we believe in our people
• Discounts on retails, social activities, etc.
• Free laser eye treatment for you and 20% discount for friends and family
• Private Healthcare, 24/7 GP appointments, free Physio and counselling for your wellbeing

The Role

The assistant theatre practitioner (ATP) role will assist in providing a safe, high-quality environment for the carrying out of surgical procedures. The role is to perform a scrub practitioner role in minor to intermediate surgery and will also include circulatory duties for all aspects of surgery.

Key Responsibilities

• Hold responsibility for the delivery of high-quality patient care throughout their visit to Optegra.
• Under the direct supervision of a registered perioperative practitioner, and ATP will provide skilled assistance to the surgeon in the operating theatre scrub role for procedures in which they have been assessed as competent, from a narrow focus of minor elective procedures in the agreed scope of practice.
• Prepare, supply and maintain all necessary instrumentation and equipment for the specified operative procedure / theatre list.
• Position and connect equipment as required by the scrub team: disconnect and safely remove equipment as required.
• Ensure proficiency with equipment before use in accordance with local policy and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Prepare sterile trolleys and ensure all instrumentation is correct and accounted for, pre, intra and post-operative procedure as per Optegra Theatre policy and AFPP standards.
• Undertake surgical scrubbing, gowning and gloving procedures aseptically, in accordance with AFPP guidelines and Optegra Policy. Working alongside the surgeon, safely passing the correct surgical instruments and materials within and maintaining the sterile field to ensure safe and efficient completion of surgical procedures.
• Undertake surgical count, as per Optegra policy, with registered practitioner
• Anticipating the needs of the surgeon and responding effectively.
• Safely checking, handling, recording and dispatching used instruments.
• Safe handling and disposal of sharps and clinical waste
• Assist registered practitioner in preparation of medicines required during surgery in line with local agreement
• Assisting the registered practitioner in the handover of the patient to recovery staff, providing appropriate information and documentation.
• Completing diagnostic testing on patients in clinic, including Biometry, OCT, A-Scan, Visual fields, Pentacam, VA, IOP, Topography.
• Actively support and assist patients on surgery days ensuring effective communication.
• Handling patient enquiries effectively, by means of referral to a medical practitioner if necessary and providing service excellence.
• Provide basic advice on health promotion, with particular reference to ophthalmic surgery.
• Provide pre and post-operative care, within level of competence, to patients.
• Be aware and sensitive to patients’ and relatives’ needs and adopt an empathetic and personal approach at all times.

Requirements

• Relevant ATP qualification
• Experience of working as ATP
• Experience in a healthcare environment or ophthalmic sector

Optegra is proud to be an inclusive business where you can enjoy the career you want, without changing the person you are. We’re welcoming to all, working together as a supportive team, respecting the uniqueness of every individual we work with.

Closing date

We may close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.