Surgical Assistant

Surgical First Assistant (SFA)

Location: London and surrounding areas

Job type: Agency / flexible shifts

Settings: NHS and private hospitals

MedicsPro is expanding its team of experienced Surgical First Assistants to support increasing demand across NHS and private hospital settings throughout London and the surrounding areas.

We are looking for qualified SFAs with substantial scrub experience who can work confidently alongside operating surgeons and the wider theatre team. This opportunity may suit registered Nurses or Operating Department Practitioners seeking flexible agency work across a range of surgical environments.

Key responsibilities

Depending on the procedure, your training and local clinical authorisation, responsibilities may include:

• Providing superficial and deep tissue retraction
• Assisting with tissue and organ handling
• Supporting haemostasis under the direction of the operating surgeon
• Manipulating cameras and instruments during laparoscopic procedures
• Cutting sutures and supporting wound management
• Assisting with patient positioning, skin preparation and surgical draping
• Completing and contributing to the WHO surgical safety checklist
• Maintaining clear and accurate perioperative records
• Ensuring instruments, equipment and consumables are available and prepared
• Supporting the safe and efficient flow of operating lists
• Working as a scrub practitioner when SFA support is not required
• Supporting and providing guidance to less experienced theatre colleagues

Where covered by accredited training, professional scope and local policy, duties may also include:

• Applying direct diathermy
• Infiltrating wounds with local anaesthetic
• Placing wound drains
• Closing skin using sutures, staples or adhesives

You will work under the clinical direction of the operating surgeon while remaining professionally accountable to your statutory regulator and the applicable hospital policies.

Essential requirements

Applicants must have:

• Current NMC or HCPC registration
• A recognised professional background in nursing, operating department practice or a relevant healthcare discipline
• A recognised and accredited Surgical First Assistant qualification or study module
• Substantial post-registration operating-theatre experience
• Extensive scrub experience
• Recent experience working in the SFA role
• A clear understanding of professional scope, accountability and clinical governance
• Appropriate professional indemnity arrangements
• The ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary theatre team
• Strong communication, organisation and patient-safety skills

Successful applicants will also need to meet the relevant agency and client compliance requirements before commencing work.

Why work with MedicsPro?

• Access to opportunities across NHS and private hospital settings
• Flexible agency work across London and surrounding areas
• Support from an experienced specialist theatre recruitment team
• Opportunities suited to your availability, experience and clinical scope
• Ongoing assistance with compliance and placement requirements

Interested?

If you are an experienced and appropriately qualified Surgical First Assistant, apply directly or email [email protected] for a confidential discussion.

#SurgicalFirstAssistant #SFA #TheatreNurse #ODP #OperatingTheatres #ScrubNurse #TheatreJobs #NursingJobs #HealthcareJobs #LondonJobs #MedicsPro