A Vacancy at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Surgical First Assistant – Colorectal Surgery Unit
Liverpool University Hospital
Liverpool University Hospital offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced theatre practitioner to apply for the role ofSurgical First Assistantin theColorectal Surgery Unit. The role involves working across bothRoyal Liverpool HospitalandUniversity Hospital Aintreesites.
The inpatient wards are based at both hospitals—Royal Liverpool Hospital with 28 beds for colorectal patients and Aintree with 8 beds. Both hospitals also offer day case and outpatient services.
The unit treats conditions such as colorectal cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and complex pelvic surgeries. It manages numerous complex cases annually with a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with oncology, dieticians, stoma care specialists, and more. The colorectal team also works with other surgical departments, offering advancedlaparoscopicandrobotic surgeries.
Core activities include trauma, emergency, and elective colorectal surgeries. The Surgical First Assistant will support the surgical teams and work closely with consultants to ensure high-quality care.
The unit has regular access tothree robotic listsat Royal Liverpool andone robotic listat Aintree with theda Vinci single-port robot, the first of its kind in the NHS.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic, fast-paced team.
• Assist scrub staff in setting up specialized equipment for colorectal surgeries.
• Ensure the safe positioning of patients for optimal surgical access and comfort.
• Support the operating surgeon with tasks such as cutting sutures, ligatures, inserting drains, securing hemostasis, and retracting tissues to the highest standards.
• Correctly handle and operate specialized colorectal surgical equipment, including laparoscopic instruments, endoscopes, diathermy units, staplers, and other tools.
• Understand wound healing principles and perform skin closure using sutures or stapling techniques as directed by the surgeon.
• Follow sterile procedures and theatre protocols to maintain a sterile environment.
• Demonstrate safe patient handling and positioning, using appropriate aids and equipment during colorectal surgeries.
• Take responsibility for the care and maintenance of surgical equipment, ensuring its safe and effective use.
• Perform peri-operative catheterization when required.
• Practice proper draping techniques to ensure patient privacy and prevent contamination.
• Contribute to creating a safe, patient-centered environment that prioritizes well-being throughout the surgical process.
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women’s, visit their careers page.
• Assist scrub staff in setting up specialized equipment for colorectal surgeries.
• Ensure the safe positioning of patients for optimal surgical access and comfort.
• Support the operating surgeon with tasks such as cutting sutures, ligatures, inserting drains, securing hemostasis, and retracting tissues to the highest standards.
• Correctly handle and operate specialized colorectal surgical equipment, including laparoscopic instruments, endoscopes, diathermy units, staplers, and other tools.
• Understand wound healing principles and perform skin closure using sutures or stapling techniques as directed by the surgeon.
• Follow sterile procedures and theatre protocols to maintain a sterile environment.
• Demonstrate safe patient handling and positioning, using appropriate aids and equipment during colorectal surgeries.
• Take responsibility for the care and maintenance of surgical equipment, ensuring its safe and effective use.
• Perform peri-operative catheterization when required.
• Practice proper draping techniques to ensure patient privacy and prevent contamination.
• Contribute to creating a safe, patient-centered environment that prioritizes well-being throughout the surgical process.
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This advert closes on Friday 21 Mar 2025