Theatres Health Care Assistant

Job Summary

We are looking to recruit a Theatre Health Care Assistant who will play an integral role at all stages of a patient’s perioperative journey.

We have twelve theatres covering a range of specialities including Orthopaedics, general surgery, and are the regional centre for Gynae‑Oncology. Our facilities include 2 state‑of‑the‑art laparoscopic theatres and a robotic theatre.

As a Theatre Health Care Assistant, you will be a valuable part of the Theatre team.

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values are the ‘golden thread’ that runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE (Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement).

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D‑Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

• Establish good relationships with the patient, their relatives and colleagues.
• Demonstrate effective communication methods within the perioperative environment.
• Assist and support the MDT with agreed clinical activities.
• Communicate effectively using written and oral skills.
• Provide and receive routine information.
• Exchange factual information to patients and attempt to overcome barriers to understanding e.g. patients with physical or mental disability, English as a second language.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and respect for patient privacy and dignity, providing reassurance and overcoming barriers to communication where appropriate.
• Carry messages between theatres/recovery as requested by the Registered Practitioner while adhering to Theatre Etiquette.
• Participate in team discussions, brief, WHO, concerning the perioperative environment and patient care.
• Operate equipment such as theatre tables, laparoscopic stack systems.
• Stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Respond effectively and timely when required in an emergency.
• Perform repetitive actions such as bending and stretching.
• Use a keyboard and computer effectively.
• Push and pull heavy or unpredictable loads such as patient trolleys, scrub trolleys.
• Ensure unsafe equipment is quarantined and appropriately serviced.
• Rotate stock to reduce wastage.
• Assist the Registered Practitioner with cleaning and maintenance of equipment in the perioperative environment.
• Expected to undertake all shift patterns, including night duty, late shifts and weekends.
• Frequent exposure to bodily fluids and occasional highly unpleasant conditions.
• Work within COSHH regulations and Health & Safety Regulations regarding hazardous substances, radiation, sharps and body fluids.
• Transport specimens and blood to and from appropriate departments as requested by qualified practitioner, adhering to Trust policies and procedures.

Essential Qualifications

• Maths and English GCSE or equivalent.
• Experience of working in a perioperative setting.

Desirable Qualifications

• Desire to work in a perioperative setting.
• Evidence of qualification.

Date posted
: 15 January 2026

Pay scheme
:
Agenda for change

Band
:
Band 3

Salary
: £24,937 to £26,598 per annum

Contract
:
Permanent

Working pattern
:
Full‑time

Reference number
: 297‑7675394

Job locations
:
Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Gateshead, NE9 6SX

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 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. (Further information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.)

Employer:

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address:
Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Gateshead, NE9 6SX

Website: