Job summary
Senior Theatre Practitioner
Department General Surgery and Gynaecology Team Theatres
Band 6 £38,682 - £46,580 Per annum, pro rata if part time
Hours 37.5 per week all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you a dynamic and experienced theatre practitioner ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?
Join our forward-thinking and innovative team at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. MKUH Theatre Department currently consists of 12 theatres, a newly established treatment room and 2 recovery areas over two sites within the hospital. We cover a range of specialities including trauma and orthopaedic, ENT, and ophthalmology
We are seeking a passionate Senior Theatre Practitioner to support our General Surgery and Gynaecology teams, which encompasses a range of specialties including:o Urologyo Gynaecologyo Breast Surgeryo Colorectal Surgeryo General Surgeryo Vascular Procedures (in our newly established treatment room)
We are looking for a Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner with current NMC/HCPC registration. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering safe, high quality perioperative care across a range of surgical specialties. You will be expected to provide expert clinical support in general and gynaecology theatres
For further information or an informal visit, please contact Alicia Tabada, alicia.tabada@mkuh.nhs.co.uk 01908 995561
Interview w/c 19 January 2026
Main duties of the job
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
"-NHS Survey, 2024' This team always knows what their work responsibilities are, scoring 93%.
The theatres at MKUH are split into two suites with a total of 12 operating theatres, and a procedure room suite which undertakes both elective and emergency work. The role of the Band 6 is to assist in theatres in the delivery of safe and effective care to the patient.
You will act as a role model and mentor to junior staff, students and new starters. You will ensure patient safety and dignity are always maintained and work collaboratively with surgeons, anaesthetists and the wider multidisciplinary team. You must be confident in scrub and circulation and able to demonstrate strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial and Leadership Responsibilities:
- Manage overall responsibility of the running of specific clinical theatre list within a given day, including organising resources [to include staff] and dealing with emergency requests, re-establishing priorities as required to meet service needs.
- Act as team leader undertaking delegated tasks from Senior Team Leader / Manager to include PDR, sickness and performance management.
- When allocated act as the daily co-ordinator for the department [Phase 1] in and out of hours.
- Act as a role model to other staff.
- Assist with staff rotas.
Clinical
- Assessing, planning, delivering and evaluation of a high level of peri-operative patient care
- Leading individual teams in the role of team leader to ensure adherence to the 5 steps to safer surgery and the safe and efficient running of the list.
- Exhibiting a high level of teamwork with the Theatre Suite and in the wider hospital environment.
- Participate fully as a team member, including working in all areas of the theatre suite, to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial and Leadership Responsibilities:
- Manage overall responsibility of the running of specific clinical theatre list within a given day, including organising resources [to include staff] and dealing with emergency requests, re-establishing priorities as required to meet service needs.
- Act as team leader undertaking delegated tasks from Senior Team Leader / Manager to include PDR, sickness and performance management.
- When allocated act as the daily co-ordinator for the department [Phase 1] in and out of hours.
- Act as a role model to other staff.
- Assist with staff rotas.
Clinical
- Assessing, planning, delivering and evaluation of a high level of peri-operative patient care
- Leading individual teams in the role of team leader to ensure adherence to the 5 steps to safer surgery and the safe and efficient running of the list.
- Exhibiting a high level of teamwork with the Theatre Suite and in the wider hospital environment.
- Participate fully as a team member, including working in all areas of the theatre suite, to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Operating Department Practice OR Registered General Nurse OR DipHE Operating Department Practice OR accredited additional qualification in anaesthetic practice equivalent to AAGBI
- Mentorship course
Desirable
- Evidence of degree level study
- First Line Management Course/Team Leadership course or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in the theatre environment
- Experience of mentoring students
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information to people with widely varying levels of understanding
- Ability to assess patients and plan, organise and evaluate their care
- Ability to manage own workload and that of junior staff
- Ability to work with high levels of physical skill
- Ability to maintain accurate records
- Ability to assess patients as fit for transfer
- Ability to organize the ongoing provision of staff, kit and disposables
- Ability to help develop and implement new policies and procedures
Personal and people development
Essential
- Self-motivated
- Acts as a role model
- Has a flexible attitude
- Encourages and develops juniors and trainees
- Has good organizational skills
Communication
Essential
- Excellent and accurate written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information to people with widely varying levels of understanding
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Operating Department Practice OR Registered General Nurse OR DipHE Operating Department Practice OR accredited additional qualification in anaesthetic practice equivalent to AAGBI
- Mentorship course
Desirable
- Evidence of degree level study
- First Line Management Course/Team Leadership course or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in the theatre environment
- Experience of mentoring students
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information to people with widely varying levels of understanding
- Ability to assess patients and plan, organise and evaluate their care
- Ability to manage own workload and that of junior staff
- Ability to work with high levels of physical skill
- Ability to maintain accurate records
- Ability to assess patients as fit for transfer
- Ability to organize the ongoing provision of staff, kit and disposables
- Ability to help develop and implement new policies and procedures
Personal and people development
Essential
- Self-motivated
- Acts as a role model
- Has a flexible attitude
- Encourages and develops juniors and trainees
- Has good organizational skills
Communication
Essential
- Excellent and accurate written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information to people with widely varying levels of understanding
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
