Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Anaesthetic Practitioner/Operating Department Practitioner

The closing date is 19 March 2026

Job summary

You will be a Registered Operating Department Practitioner or Anaesthetic Nurse with experience in anaesthesia, working both collaboratively within teams and independently as an autonomous practitioner.

You will be competent across a range of anaesthetic skills, underpinned by professional and clinical knowledge, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care to all patients within the Theatre suite while maintaining effective communication with the team.

Clinically, you may be required to work as an Anaesthetic Practitioner, Scrub Assistant, Circulating Assistant, or Recovery Room Practitioner, taking responsibility for the team or the delivery of care during a span of duty or an operating list.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking motivated and passionate individuals to join our theatre team, working flexibly to provide the highest standards of professional care to patients and to contribute positively to the team's pursuit of excellence.

You will be expected to deliver holistic, evidence-based care that is current, effective, and patient-focused. A broad knowledge and skill set, including strong communication and team-working abilities, is essential to support the smooth and efficient operation of the theatre department.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

05 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-NUR26673-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital (South Wing)

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Prepare the operating theatre or anaesthetic room for surgery, ensuring all required instrumentation, equipment, and supplies are available for specific procedures while minimizing waste. For anaesthetic procedures, ensure all essential and emergency equipment is present and in working order.

  • Complete the Patient Record accurately and in a timely manner.

  • Act as a preceptor for student ODPs, learners, junior nurses, and theatre assistants where appropriate, and participate in teaching within your area of expertise.

  • Run a theatre list independently and provide supervision and mentoring to junior staff.

  • Perform anaesthetic, recovery, scrub, and/or circulating duties as required.

  • Organise your own workload and delegate duties appropriately to staff under your supervision.

  • Maintain effective communication channels at all times with patients and the multidisciplinary team.

  • Adhere to all relevant policies and procedures, particularly those relating to Health and Safety, the WHO Checklist, COSHH, incident reporting, and the Data Protection Act

Please refer to the attached JD

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Prepare the operating theatre or anaesthetic room for surgery, ensuring all required instrumentation, equipment, and supplies are available for specific procedures while minimizing waste. For anaesthetic procedures, ensure all essential and emergency equipment is present and in working order.

  • Complete the Patient Record accurately and in a timely manner.

  • Act as a preceptor for student ODPs, learners, junior nurses, and theatre assistants where appropriate, and participate in teaching within your area of expertise.

  • Run a theatre list independently and provide supervision and mentoring to junior staff.

  • Perform anaesthetic, recovery, scrub, and/or circulating duties as required.

  • Organise your own workload and delegate duties appropriately to staff under your supervision.

  • Maintain effective communication channels at all times with patients and the multidisciplinary team.

  • Adhere to all relevant policies and procedures, particularly those relating to Health and Safety, the WHO Checklist, COSHH, incident reporting, and the Data Protection Act

Please refer to the attached JD

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse / ODP
  • Anaesthetic qualification if on the NMC register

Desirable

  • Evidence of CPD

Experience

Essential

  • Autonomous practitioner
  • Multi Skilled Practitioner

Desirable

  • Previous theatre Experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of professional codes of conduct and practice
  • Patient safety and WHO checklist
  • Ability to meet deadlines

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and self aware
  • Open/Reflective
  • Team focused
  • Reliable, Adaptable and dependable
  • Excellent communication skills

Other

Essential

  • Flexible in working patterns
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse / ODP
  • Anaesthetic qualification if on the NMC register

Desirable

  • Evidence of CPD

Experience

Essential

  • Autonomous practitioner
  • Multi Skilled Practitioner

Desirable

  • Previous theatre Experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of professional codes of conduct and practice
  • Patient safety and WHO checklist
  • Ability to meet deadlines

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and self aware
  • Open/Reflective
  • Team focused
  • Reliable, Adaptable and dependable
  • Excellent communication skills

Other

Essential

  • Flexible in working patterns

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital (South Wing)

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital (South Wing)

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Anaesthetic Team Manager

Claire Guile

claire.guile@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

01234792125

Details

Date posted

05 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-NUR26673-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital (South Wing)

Kempston road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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