We are looking to appoint a motivated and reliable Theatre Support Assistant (TSA) to join our busy operating theatres and anaesthesia team. The successful candidate will play a vital role in supporting the safe, efficient, and smooth running of theatre services, contributing directly to a high standard of patient care.
You will have experience working in a healthcare, theatre, or clinical environment, with an understanding of the peri‑operative patient journey. You should be well organised, approachable, and able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, working effectively with patients, relatives, and the multidisciplinary team.
As a Theatre Support Assistant, you will be responsible for the safe transfer and positioning of patients, movement of equipment, and preparation of the theatre environment. You will support clinical teams by ensuring theatres are appropriately stocked, clean, and ready for use, and that equipment is available when required.
You should be enthusiastic, flexible, and calm under pressure, with the ability to respond to changing demands within a theatre setting. A strong commitment to patient dignity, safety, and comfort is essential.
Working as part of the peri‑operative team, you will contribute to the delivery of an efficient, high‑quality surgical service, ensuring a welcoming, caring, and safe environment that promotes and maintains standards in line with Trust values.
Our recruitment process will include an assessment in the morning and an interview in the afternoon. Interview times are allocated once all the numeracy and literacy assessments have been completed and marked. Please plan to be with us for the entire day.
The Theatre Support Assistant (TSA) plays a key role in supporting the multidisciplinary team to ensure high‑quality, patient‑centred peri‑operative care. This post is designed to maintain high standards of care by working as an integral member of the theatre team, delivering care under the supervision of a registered practitioner.
This is a varied role requiring flexibility and adaptability to meet the changing needs of the operating department. The TSA will work in line with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers (2013) and Compassion in Practice.
Key responsibilities include assisting with the safe transfer of patients to and from wards and treatment areas; supporting the preparation, cleaning, and waste disposal of theatre environments in line with local policy; and contributing to accurate documentation where appropriate.
The TSA will help maintain a safe and well‑organised environment, including restocking gas cylinders, medical equipment, pharmacy, and sterile supplies, and monitoring stock levels.
The role involves clear and effective communication with patients, families, and the multidisciplinary team, maintaining confidentiality, professional boundaries, and a safe environment for patients and staff. There is flexibility to adapt to changing working practices and an opportunity for development through training and competency assessment to undertake physiological observations (e.g. TPR, BP, oxygen saturation, NEWS, and urine testing) under direct supervision
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
- University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Please note, due to anticipated high volumes of applications, this vacancy may close earlier than the listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
- UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working .
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
