Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen in Theatres at Maidstone Hospital for dynamic, innovative and highly motivated individual to work within our new Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre as a Theatre Support Worker!

Over 200 new posts will support the new Centre, which is part of a national scheme to deliver more than 50 new surgical hubs across England. The new Centre will  treat patients from across the region, increasing the Trust’s capacity for planned surgical procedures. 

The Centre will contain the latest novel open plan laminar flow theatres; open-plan surgical areas where up to three patients are treated in a dedicated space with a specialised air canopy over each station to prevent the spread of infection. The new facility will also include a 14-bed inpatient ward and a 10-bed day case ward, with recovery, x-ray and therapy space, all within a dedicated elective building.

The Centre will expand orthopaedic surgical capacity across Kent and Medway, playing an important part in elective recovery and the reduction of patient waiting times across the region.

The Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre will work alongside our existing services to provide care. Our amazing Maidstone Orthopaedic Centre (MOU) and Maidstone Short Stay Unit (MSSU) will all continue. 

You will receive structured training to work in this specialist area whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide a consistent and high standard of patient centred care.

Main duties of the job

• Help to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of staff, patients and visitors, and to protect the patients Privacy & Dignity
• Be aware of legislation and policies governing theatre practice, particularly in terms of universal precautions
• Preparation of theatres for surgery
• Cleaning of theatre and recovery areas before and after operating sessions, also adhering to the weekly cleaning schedule
• Restocking of cupboards and stock containers against agreed stock levels.
• Collect and escort the patient, and assist with transferring of the patient from trolley to table under supervision of trained staff.
• Assist with safe positioning of patient on operating table.
• Act as circulating person for the scrub team and within the scope of the role.
• Assist with the care, labelling and transportation of specimens, and the collection of blood from the Blood Bank as required.
• Keep and maintain appropriate records according to local policy, including use if the trusts IT systems
• Dispose of soiled dressings, fluids and linen in accordance with local policy.
• Maintain confidentiality; especially regarding information related to patients and their treatment.
• Help to maintain effective communication between departments by acting as messenger when required.
• Take a full part in the Clinical Governance agenda of the Trust and the
• Attend departmental meetings as required.
• Responsibility for collecting data required for the key performance Indicators. Health and Safety

Working for our organisation

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working?

We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

•    At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
•    Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
•    Blue Light card eligibility
•    And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below