Senior Theatre Practitioner

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Milton Keynes is seeking a passionate Senior Theatre Practitioner to support the General Surgery and Gynaecology teams. The role involves managing theatre lists, providing expert clinical support, and mentoring junior staff. Candidates must be a Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner with NMC/HCPC registration. This position offers a competitive salary within a dynamic hospital environment, with opportunities for flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner with current NMC/HCPC registration.
• Experience of working in the theatre environment.
• Evidence of degree level study.

Responsibilities

• Manage overall responsibility of the running of a specific clinical theatre list.
• Assess and evaluate high level of peri-operative patient care.
• Act as team leader and mentor to junior staff.

Skills

Communication

Patient assessment

Team management

Organizational skills

Leadership

Physical skills

Education

NVQ Level 3 Operating Department Practice

Registered General Nurse

First Line Management Course

Job description

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Theatre Practitioner

The closing date is 11 January 2026

Department: General Surgery and Gynaecology Team Theatres

Band 6 £38,682 - £46,580 Per annum, pro rata if part time

Hours: 37.5 per week; all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Are you a dynamic and experienced theatre practitioner ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?

Join our forward‑thinking and innovative team at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. MKUH Theatre Department currently consists of 12 theatres, a newly established treatment room and 2 recovery areas over two sites within the hospital. We cover a range of specialities including trauma and orthopaedic, ENT, and ophthalmology.

We are seeking a passionate Senior Theatre Practitioner to support our General Surgery and Gynaecology teams, encompassing a range of specialties including Urology, Gynaecology, Breast Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery and Vascular Procedures (in our newly established treatment room).

We are looking for a Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner with current NMC/HCPC registration. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering safe, high‑quality peri‑operative care across a range of surgical specialties. You will be expected to provide expert clinical support in general and gynaecology theatres.

For further information or an informal visit, please contact Alicia Tabada, [e-mail] 01908 995561

Interview w/c 19 January 2026

Main duties of the job

"NHS Survey, 2024" This team always knows what their work responsibilities are, scoring 93%.

The theatres at MKUH are split into two suites with a total of 12 operating theatres, and a procedure room suite which undertakes both elective and emergency work. The role of the Band 6 is to assist in theatres in the delivery of safe and effective care to the patient.

You will act as a role model and mentor to junior staff, students and new starters. You will ensure patient safety and dignity are always maintained and work collaboratively with surgeons, anaesthetists and the wider multidisciplinary team. You must be confident in scrub and circulation and be able to demonstrate strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.

Job responsibilities

Managerial and Leadership Responsibilities:

• Manage overall responsibility of the running of a specific clinical theatre list within a given day, including organising resources (to include staff) and dealing with emergency requests, re‑establishing priorities as required to meet service needs.
• Act as team leader undertaking delegated tasks from Senior Team Leader / Manager to include PDR, sickness and performance management.
• When allocated, act as the daily co‑ordinator for the department [Phase 1] in and out of hours.
• Act as a role model to other staff.
• Assist with staff rotas.

Clinical

• Assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating a high level of peri‑operative patient care.
• Leading individual teams in the role of team leader to ensure adherence to the 5 steps to safer surgery and the safe and efficient running of the list.
• Exhibiting a high level of teamwork with the Theatre Suite and in the wider hospital environment.
• Participate fully as a team member, including working in all areas of the theatre suite, to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.

Please refer to the job description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• NVQ Level 3 Operating Department Practice OR Registered General Nurse OR Diploma in Operating Department Practice OR accredited additional qualification in anaesthetic practice equivalent to AAGBI.
• Evidence of degree level study.
• First Line Management Course/Team Leadership course or equivalent.

Experience

• Experience of working in the theatre environment.
• Experience of mentoring students.

Skills

• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information to people with widely varying levels of understanding.
• Ability to assess patients and plan, organise and evaluate their care.
• Ability to manage own workload and that of junior staff.
• Ability to work with high levels of physical skill.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to assess patients as fit for transfer.
• Ability to organise the ongoing provision of staff, kit and disposables.
• Ability to help develop and implement new policies and procedures.

Personal and people development

• Self‑motivated.
• Acts as a role model.
• Has a flexible attitude.
• Encourages and develops juniors and trainees.
• Has good organisational skills.

Communication

• Excellent and accurate written and verbal communication skills.

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.

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.