Department Manager | University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 03 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £47,810 - £54,710 pa |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 11 March 2026 |
| Location: | Lancaster, LA1 4RP |
| Company: | University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7707946/331-7707946-UHMB |
Summary
Are you an experienced and dynamic leader looking for a pivotal role in surgical services? We are seeking aPre-Operative Assessment Unit Managerto lead and manage a team of approximately33 staff across our three main sites.
About the Role
The purpose of Pre-Operative Assessment is to ensure every patient scheduled for surgery is clinically optimised, safe, and ready for their procedure. This process is critical to patient safety and the efficient running of our operating theatres. Each week, we need to deliverover 350 fully assessed and suitable patientsto populate theatre lists across all sites.
As Unit Manager, you will:
• Provideday-to-day operational and clinical leadershipfor the Pre-Op Assessment service.
• Oversee workforce planning, performance, and compliance with national safety standards.
• Drive improvements in patient flow, elective recovery, and surgical efficiency.
• Ensure adherence toCQC standards, RCOA and GIRFT requirements.
• Lead service development initiatives and support staff wellbeing across multiple sites.
Why Join Us?
This is achallenging but highly rewarding rolewith real scope to influence change and innovation in surgical pathways. You will play a key part in improving patient experience, reducing cancellations, and supporting the Trust’s elective recovery programme.
If you are passionate about patient safety, operational excellence, and leading multidisciplinary teams, we would love to hear from you.
• Provideday-to-day operational and clinical leadershipfor the Pre-Operative Assessment service across Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General Hospital, and Furness General Hospital.
• Manage and support a team of approximately33 staff, ensuring safe staffing levels, skill mix, and compliance with Trust policies.
• Overseepatient flow and schedulingto ensure over350 patients per weekare assessed and ready for surgery, supporting theatre efficiency and elective recovery targets.
• Ensure adherence tonational safety standardsincluding CQC Fundamental Standards, GIEFT, RCoA, NatSSIPs, and WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
• Lead onservice development and quality improvement initiatives, driving innovation in pre-op pathways and digital solutions.
• Monitor and report onperformance metrics, including RTT compliance, cancellation rates, and patient experience.
• Managebudgetary responsibilities, workforce planning, and training compliance for the unit.
• Act as theescalation point for clinical and operational issues, ensuring timely resolution and robust governance.
• Foster a positive team culture, supporting staff wellbeing, professional development, and retention.
• Collaborate with surgical, anaesthetic, and operational teams to optimise patient safety and surgical efficiency.
We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.
FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.
WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.
All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.
• Registered Nurse (Adult)with current NMC registration.
• Significant experience inpre-operative assessmentor perioperative/surgical services.
• Provenleadership and management experiencewithin a clinical setting, including staff supervision and workforce planning.
• Strong understanding ofnational safety standards(CQC Fundamental Standards, NatSSIPs, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist).
• Demonstrated ability to managecomplex patient pathwaysand optimise patient flow.
• Excellentcommunication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across multiple sites.
• Experience inbudget management, resource allocation, and service improvement.
• Evidence ofquality improvement initiativesand ability to drive change.
• Competent indata analysis and performance reportingto monitor KPIs and compliance.
• Commitment tostaff development and wellbeing, fostering a positive team culture.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively, and maintain patient safety in a fast-paced environment.
This advert closes on Tuesday 24 Feb 2026