Theatre Health Care Assistant

Job overview

To carry out care and treatment tasks as delegated by Qualified Professionals, requiring a wide technical ability, numeracy and accuracy as well as a significant level of interpersonal skills.

To participate and complete training programme in order to fulfil the role of Assistant Health Care Practitioner.

Work under the supervision of qualified staff, as part of the clinical team, ensuring that clinical care of patients and others using the service receive an efficient and quality service.

Main duties of the job

• Following appropriate training, assist in the provision of care to patient’s pre, peri and post operatively, supporting clinical theatre staff under supervision.
• Act as a member of the multidisciplinary team,
• Carry out routine and additional/extended role, duties when trained and been assessed as competent.
• Help in the preparation of patients for surgical procedures, ensuring all relevant documentation accompanies the patient in order to maintain their safety.
• Following training assist the team in taking and dispatching specimens as required.
• Undertake procedures, processes and activities, which may be reasonably considered as an extension of their normal role. This will involve participating in training programs to improve competencies.
• Assist in endoscopy procedures and the maintenance and cleaning of equipment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Support the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of a high standard of patient care within the department, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Assist in the preparation of the operating room prior to commencement of surgery.
• Collect appropriate instrument trays and disposable items as directed by the Theatre Practitioner.
• Prepare and maintain the environment to a standard suitable for clinical procedures as required, ensuring instruments, materials and equipment are handled safely and correctly and are returned to the correct location at end of procedure.
• Collect and transfer patients from ward to theatre and recovery to ward in a safe and courteous manner.
• Assist the team with moving, handling and positioning the patient on the operating table.
• Transfer the patient safely, under the supervision of medical/ anaesthetic staff from anaesthetic room to theatre.
• Check and connect surgical equipment as directed by the Theatre Practitioner e.g. suction, diathermy and camera system.
• Ensure correct surgical props are available, clean and in good working order.
• Support patient limb during prepping and draping.
• Assist the scrub team with gown and gloves prior to surgery begins.
• Ensure maintenance of a sterile field throughout the surgical procedure.
• Ensure that all surgical instruments are positioned and applied only under the supervision of the surgeon.
• Provide surgical instrumentation and supplementary items for the surgical team, monitor and maintain sterile fields during operative procedures.
• Prepare and attach dressing, wound support and drain to patient at end of procedure.