Surgical Theatre Circulating Assistant

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford, Luton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Theatre Assistant to provide skilled support to registered practitioners and the multidisciplinary team in perioperative care. You will act as a circulating practitioner in the operating theatre, preparing equipment, instruments, and sterile packs and ensuring aseptic practice.

You will help with patient positioning, counts of swabs and sharps, maintain clean, safe theatres, and support documentation and infection prevention standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in perioperative care and circulating theatre support.
• Ability to prepare and check theatre equipment and instruments.
• Follows infection prevention and aseptic protocols.

Responsibilities

• Work as a circulating practitioner within the operating theatre, supporting patients and the multidisciplinary team throughout the perioperative pathway.
• Adhere to infection prevention and control policies, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and aseptic practice.
• Assist with patient positioning for surgical procedures, ensuring the safe use of operating tables, attachments, and positioning equipment.
• Check, prepare, assemble, and dismantle theatre equipment, reporting faults and ensuring equipment is safe for use.
• Handle, open, and present sterile instruments, consumables, and packs in accordance with aseptic techniques.
• Complete theatre documentation accurately and maintain attention to detail at all times.
• Participate in swab, needle, and instrument counts, ensuring all checks are carried out and documented correctly.
• Assist with the receipt, labelling, handling, and documentation of clinical specimens.
• Support the cleaning and preparation of theatre suites to maintain a safe clinical environment.
• Undertake out-of-hours responsibilities, including acting as the second person on duty overnight, carrying the emergency phone, and communicating with clinicians as required.
• Communicate effectively with patients and all members of the multidisciplinary team and actively participate in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
• Support patient transfers and positioning, following manual handling procedures and safe working practices.
• Undertake physically demanding duties, including prolonged periods of standing and the pushing and pulling of equipment, while contributing to the smooth and efficient running of theatre services.

Skills

Circulating practitioner

Infection prevention

Aseptic technique

Patient positioning

Theatre equipment handling

Job description

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Theatre Assistant to provide skilled support to registered practitioners and the multidisciplinary team in perioperative care. You will act as a circulating practitioner in the operating theatre, preparing equipment, instruments, and sterile packs and ensuring aseptic practice.

You will help with patient positioning, counts of swabs and sharps, maintain clean, safe theatres, and support documentation and infection prevention standards.