PACU Practitioner

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary £31,049 - £37,796 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 04/02/2026 23:59

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

An exciting opportunity has occurred in our Theatre department working in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU). The successful candidate will work as part of the PACU team covering a 24 hour emergency service as well as elective surgery, working a variety of shift patterns to include day, night and weekend work. The transformation of services within UHD will provide future development opportunities within other specialities.

Cross site working is expected to support the service when needed.

This role requires an active UK
NMC registered Nurse (Advanced Diploma/Degree in Adult Health Nursing) or HCPC registered ODP (Dip (HE) Operating Department Practice)

Base

Location:

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Interview date: 16th February 2026

• To deliver safe quality care for patients during their perioperative phase of care.
• To support and assist in the management and organisation of care provision within the Operating Theatre Department.
• Promote good working relationships and collaborative working with the multi-disciplinary team, both within the department and the rest of the Trust.
• To apply and promote best evidence based practice within own scope of practice.
• Act as an effective role model by developing and demonstrating effective organisational and leadership skills.
• To contribute to service improvements.
• To act in a manner in keeping with the relevant code of conduct.
• To uphold and enhance the good standard and reputation of the trust.

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed…