Straight to Test Colorectal Nurse

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare trust in Luton seeks a passionate Band 6 Nurse to join their Colorectal Straight to Test team. This role involves assessing and triaging patients undergoing colorectal cancer referrals. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and RGN level 1 training, alongside experience in endoscopy settings. The position demands strong communication skills, with a focus on enhancing patient care through timely assessments and interventions. Join a team dedicated to innovative care and making a real impact in patient outcomes.

Benefits

Access to high-quality training and development programs

Commitment to equality and diversity in the workplace

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of working within an endoscopy/colorectal setting.
• Experience in managing a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Manage patients referred urgently for suspected colorectal cancer.
• Conduct assessment clinics and book appropriate investigations.
• Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary team and primary care.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Education

Degree

RGN level 1 Relevant endoscopy/colorectal training Evidence of professional development

Job description

Straight to Test Colorectal Nurse

The closing date is 04 January 2026

An exciting opportunity awaits! We're looking for a passionate Band 6 Nurse to join our well-established Colorectal Straight to Test (STT) team. In this pivotal role, you'll be at the heart of patient care--assessing and triaging individuals on both the suspected cancer and urgent pathways, ensuring they receive timely diagnoses and streamlined support.

You will play a key part in driving innovation by helping expand the STT model to include a routine referral pathway, shaping the future of colorectal services and supporting national cancer targets. If you thrive in a fast‑paced, patient‑focused environment and want to make a real impact, this is your chance to join a team that values expertise, collaboration, and progress.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will work alongside the established colorectal STT team to continue to assess patients referred on the 2ww pathway and the STT FIT negative/urgent referrals for symptomatic patients, and will also be responsible for assisting in expanding the STT model to include a pathway for routine referrals.
• The role will include conducting telephone and face‑to‑face triage assessments, booking appropriate tests based on the patients' symptoms and fitness, providing appropriate patient information, and booking an outpatient appointment for those unsuitable for STT.
• We are looking for someone who is very enthusiastic with experience/knowledge of the colorectal cancer referral pathway; with excellent time keeping, advanced communication and patient assessment skills. Training will be given to develop skills in assessing co‑morbidities, requesting investigations and making clinical decisions within set protocols.

Job responsibilities

• Responsible for the effective management of patients referred urgently by the GP for suspected colorectal cancer and for symptomatic FIT negative/urgent referrals.
• Act as a change agent and innovator, planning, instigating and evaluating change in line with local and national guidance.
• Conduct telephone and face‑to‑face assessment clinics to triage the patients referred to the STT service and book the appropriate investigations.
• Complete training to use a Patient Group Direction (PGD) for bowel prep and enemas.
• Following a protocol, decide on the appropriate next step for the patient based on symptoms and book the test/appointment directly using the electronic booking system.
• Complete all relevant documentation, ensuring this is uploaded onto the electronic patient record system.
• Communicate with patients in order to properly prepare and pre‑assess them for their procedures.
• Audit of patient outcomes and experience with the service.
• Communicate effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team and colleagues in primary care including the referring GP.
• As necessary respond to clinical incidents and where appropriate compile an incident report.
• Ensure compliance with best practice and NICE guidance in relation to patient pathways.
• Promote patient participation in decision making and enable their informed choice of appointment in line with the Trust booking policy.
• Undertake the necessary administration tasks associated with booking and scheduling appointments on Trust systems.
• Ensure that clinic summary letters are sent to GPs for those patients assessed by the post holder.
• Maintain a physical and psychological environment conducive to the provision of high quality care.
• Recognise and respect the cultural and spiritual needs of others.
• Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2015) at all times.

Qualifications

• RGN level 1 Relevant endoscopy/colorectal training Evidence of professional development
• Degree

Experience

• Extensive experience of working within an endoscopy/colorectal setting.
• of managing a caseload. Experience

Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge of current clinical, professional and governance issues
• Knowledge of a participation in audit

Skills

• Advanced communication skills

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.