Senior Theatre Nurse - Bedford Theatres

NHS; Bedford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading eye care center in Bedford is seeking a Senior Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner focusing on anaesthetics and recovery. Candidates will join a multidisciplinary team ensuring high-quality patient care, with opportunities for training and professional development. Experience in ophthalmic theatre is essential. Flexible working patterns available.

Benefits

Join the NHS Pension Scheme

Free 24/7 counselling service

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working organization

Access to NHS Discounts

Qualifications

• NMC or HCPC Registration required.
• 12 months relevant ophthalmic theatre scrub experience.
• Experience in running theatre lists in a busy environment.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan and provide specialist ophthalmic nursing advice.
• Supervise junior staff and students.
• Ensure adherence to safer surgery checklist principles.
• Collaborate with Infection Control and Risk Management.

Skills

Prioritising workload

Clinical practice evidence

Working autonomously

Team collaboration

Education

Relevant ophthalmic Post-registration qualification

Recognised clinical teaching qualification

Job description

Overview

The closing date is 12 October 2025

Join our multidisciplinary team of skilled and motivated staff who provide a high quality of care to our patients, both NHS and private. We are committed to your professional development and will provide you with a range of education and in-house training and one to one coaching co-ordinated by a dedicated practice development nurse and senior nursing team.

We are proud to work in theatres where we are renowned as the UK's and international leading centre for ophthalmology surgery. We are looking to recruit Senior Registered Nurses and/or Operating Department Practitioners with a focus on Anaesthetics and Recovery. This is a seven-day service with a range of flexible working patterns including evenings and weekends.

The successful candidate will work in collaboration with the Theatre team, developing excellent working relationships with staff members, consultants and key stakeholders. They will assist in driving sustainable excellence in the safety and quality of care and services. They will support the Quality agenda by monitoring achievements against required standards, identifying risks to quality of care and services and planning, recommending /implementing changes for continuous improvement.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, planning and provision of specialist ophthalmic nursing advice and carries out specialist nursing procedures in scrub as well as providing care and support in the clinical OPD setting as part of the perioperative pathway. The post holder will provide supervision to junior staff, students and may undertake research, lead clinical audits in own specialist area. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of patients and always working in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centred care principles.

The post holder will be responsible for the effective and efficient operational supervision of the department; including a budgetary awareness, clinical governance, staff development and training. The post holder will be expected to provide professional leadership within the clinical area and provide direction and inspirational leadership to all members of the multidisciplinary team within the area for which they are accountable for. The post holder will be involved in the development of protocols / guidelines and patient information.

About us

This post is based at our Bedford satellite site.

At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:

• Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
• Free 24/7 independent counselling service
• Learning and development opportunities
• Easy and quick transport links
• A range of attractive benefits and discounts
• Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
• Free Pilates classes
• Full support and training to develop your skills
• Flexible working friendly organisation

And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will act be part of a clinical team provided to ensure that clinical care of patients and others using the service receive an efficient and quality service. The post offers the opportunity to further develop clinical and non-clinical skills within the team.

Ensure that equipment is available and in good working order, being mindful of specialty specific requirements

Ensure the safer surgery checklist principles are adhered to, taking the lead if necessary ensuring the presence of the entire team. Be prepared to escalate non-compliance to the Clinical Lead for Anaesthetics and Recovery.

Support the Theatre Manager in working collaboratively with Infection Control, Risk Management and corporate nursing to ensure actions from audits and incidents are acted upon and resolved in a timely manner.

The post holder will be responsible for the effective and efficient operational supervision of the department; including a budgetary awareness, clinical governance, staff development and training. The post holder will be expected to provide professional leadership within the clinical area and provide direction and inspirational leadership to all members of the multidisciplinary team within the area for which they are accountable for. The post holder will be involved in the development of protocols / guidelines and patient information.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

• NMC or HCPC Registration

Education

• Relevant ophthalmic Post-registration qualification.
• Recognised clinical teaching qualification

Experience and Knowledge

• Recent relevant ophthalmic theatre scrub experience for at least 12 months.
• Experience of running theatre lists in a busy theatre environment.

Skills

• Able to prioritise own workload and that of others.
• Demonstrate evidence of well-developed clinical practice.
• Able to work on/under own initiative.
• Demonstrates awareness of importance of working as part of a team

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust