Job overview
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust operates hospitals on our two main sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester, and we’re one of the largest NHS trusts in the country. Our workforce of almost 9,000 staff provide high quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a range of clinical areas.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Scrub Practitioner to join our Theatre team at Gloucester Royal Hospital.
You will have the opportunity to work across a wide range of specialties including Upper GI, Colorectal, Vascular, Interventional Radiology (IR), Paediatric Urology, Gynaecology, and Robotic Surgery. This role offers excellent development opportunities within a supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team.
Whether you are newly qualified or have existing theatre experience, we are committed to supporting your development within the perioperative environment.
Main duties of the job
As a Scrub Practitioner, you will:
- Work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality perioperative care
- Act as scrub practitioner across a range of surgical specialties, including complex and minimally invasive procedures
- Prepare operating theatres, instruments, and specialist equipment, including robotic and IR systems
- Maintain high standards of aseptic technique and infection prevention
- Anticipate the needs of the surgical team to ensure efficient and safe procedures
- Undertake and document surgical counts in line with Trust policy
- Participate in WHO surgical safety checklists, team briefs, and debriefs
- Provide safe, effective, and patient-centred care throughout the perioperative pathway
- Support patients undergoing a variety of procedures, including paediatric and high-acuity surgical cases
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The successful post holder will:
- Deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care in line with the NMC/HCPC Code
- Maintain patient dignity, privacy, and safety at all times
- Assist in patient positioning appropriate to surgical procedures
- Work flexibly across theatre specialties as service needs require
- Contribute to audit, quality improvement, and clinical governance activity
- Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to Trust policies and procedures
- Participate in ongoing training and development
- Support students, new staff, and colleagues within the theatre team
Person specification
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Registered Nurse (NMC) or Operating Department Practitioner (HCPC)
- Evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of professional portfolio and registration revalidation
- Understanding of perioperative practice and patient care
- Knowledge of infection prevention and control
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Professional, reliable, and patient-focused approach
Desirable
- Previous operating theatre experience
- Knowledge of surgical instrumentation and procedures
- Experience in specialties such as Upper GI, Colorectal, Vascular, IR, Paediatric Urology, Gynaecology, or Robotics
- Experience working in a fast-paced acute environment
- Interest in developing skills in specialist areas (e.g. robotics, IR)
- Participation in audit or quality improvement
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Registered Nurse/ODP, Band 5 with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cheltenham, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Operating department practitioner role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 (pa, pro rata if part-time). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 20 Jul 2026.
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