Anaesthetic Practitioner/Operating Department Practitioner
| Posting date: | 05 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £31,049 - £37,796 Per annum pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 04 April 2026 |
| Location: | Bedford, MK42 9DJ |
| Company: | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7826673/418-NUR26673-CW |
Summary
A Vacancy at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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.
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.
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.
• 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
This advert closes on Thursday 19 Mar 2026
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.
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.
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.
• 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
This advert closes on Thursday 19 Mar 2026