Theatre Support Worker

Job overview

Support the care of patients undergoing operations under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or operating department practitioner and contribute to their ongoing care, working in varied clinical surgical teams.

This post is Band 3 on completion of the Care Certificate within 6 weeks and completion of relevant theatre support worker competencies within 6 months during which time the staff member will be paid at band 2.

Main duties of the job

• Maintain patient confidentiality and dignity at all times.
• Collection and check in of patients from ward to designated theatre including carrying out all relevant checks prior to leaving the ward, communicating in an appropriate manner and maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Provide support and reassurance to patients throughout all stages of the perioperative journey
• Preparation of the theatre department according to local policy.
• Cleaning of theatres, anaesthetic rooms, floors, walls sluice areas and any other area that requires cleaning daily or as required.
• Organise and prepare necessary equipment and supplements for operating lists in advance, this includes communication between departments, theatres to ensure smooth running of the operating list.

Ensure all areas within the operating department are clean and tidy, with adequate stock levels maintained and rotated

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assist with transfer and positioning of the conscious and unconscious patient safely between all acute areas of the department and hospital.
• Assisting theatre personnel in gowning and gloving following local policy.
• Support registered theatre personnel by opening packs in a sterile fashion and using clinical knowledge and experience to anticipate the potential equipment needs as a surgical case progresses.
• Perform swab, instrument and sharps counts with scrub practitioner as per national/local policy, ensuring continuous support during surgery, appropriately handing over to other personnel when required.
• Measuring and recording fluid balance during surgery, including urinary output, irrigation fluids, setting up, monitoring usage and documenting. Weighing of swabs and calculating estimated blood loss together with suction/cell salvage/liquor amounts specific to the procedure and communicating concern appropriately.

Assist in receiving, handling, and dispatching clinical specimens, ensuring the correct transport medium and container are used. Confirm specimens are labelled correctly, carefully and safely under direction of scrub practitioner