Theatre Support Worker

Under the supervision of a Theatre Nurse/ODP, the Theatre Support Worker will provide perioperative care and support to all patients in the theatre department or associated areas with the appropriate training and mínimal supervision of the qualified nursing staff. The Theatre Support Worker will ensure that the clinical environment and associated areas are kept clean, tidy, stocked and safe, in accordance with health and safety policies. The Theatre Support Worker will contribute to the smooth running of the dept.

To answer the telephone, deal politely and appropriately with all callers and transmit messages accurately to colleagues

Safe transfer of patients between theatres and wards / departments

Safe transfer of patients using theatre transfer systems and manual handling aides, with appropriate help from other clinical staff

Assist theatre nurses and surgeons to position patients appropriately according to the needs of the patients’ condition and the surgical anaesthetic procedures

To maintain a safe environment by ensuring own knowledge of equipment and adhering to manufacturer’s guidelines

To maintain a safe environment by adhering to standard precautions to ensure infection control and donning of PPE

Responsible for collecting, testing and preparing appropriate theatre equipment, ensuring that they are in good working order prior to procedure. e.g. electro-surgical Unit, suction machines and camera systems

Responsible for maintaining theatre equipment in good working order and to prepare faulty equipment as per Local and Trust Policy when sending out equipment for repair

Responsible for preparing and safely assembling theatre tables for specific procedures, following manufacturers’ instructions

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a community focused provider of local and acute care, providing high quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. With a turnover of around £700 million, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham and a range of community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

As an organisation, we’ve made significant improvements for patients and staff in the last two and-a-half years. This is reflected in our most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection (from February 2020), which found improvements across the organisation and gave us an improved rating of “Good” in the Well-Led and Effective domains, in addition to the rating of “Good” that we had already achieved in the Caring domain. Our staff culture change programme has been key to the Trust’s improvement journey, as we’ve stabilised our workforce by reducing vacancy rates and improving staff retention. We’ve also significantly increased the representation of minority ethnic leaders across our clinical and corporate teams.

Assist nurses/practitioners to collect and to label specimens following local and Trust policy

To disconnect, and to carry out cleaning and disinfection of contaminated theatre tables/trolleys and all medical equipment after surgery and to safely transfer the equipments to the storage area

Safe and effective cleaning of surfaces and floors as per guidelines

To report all complaints, incidents or accidents to the qualified nurse/practitioner, sister/charge nurse, Theatre Service Manager as appropriate

Assist the nurses/practitioners to give appropriate and sensitive care for patients and their relatives at all times

To assist medical and nursing staff during emergency patient care

To be approachable and able to present him/herself in an effective, polite and helpful manner at all times

Maintain standard of conduct and dress to sustain public confidence in accordance with Local and Trust Policy

To maintain confidentiality in relation to information about patients, staff and other heath service providers in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1984 and the Caldicott guidelines

To up hold good standards of behaviour towards colleagues, patients, and the public

To practice within the framework of corporate and local policies

Provide a safe environment for patients, report health and safety risks as per policy

Take responsibility for own actions and be aware of own limits. Report any matter, outside these, to a qualified nurse/practitioner