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This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Salary for this role£32,073 – £39,043 a year

Health and Care route minimum£25,000 a year

Pay basisNational pay scales (NHS bands)

NHS roles fall under the Health and Care Worker route. Salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement.

Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

o Do you think you have what it takes to be a Band 5 Theatre Practitioner in the Eye Hospital?

o Would you like the opportunity to develop your career within Ophthalmic Theatres?

o Do you have the skills, enthusiasm and commitment to deliver outstanding perioperative care?

Can you be part of our dynamic and supportive team as we continue to develop and enhance our ophthalmic theatre services over the coming years?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated practitioner with an interest in perioperative care. Whether your background is in anaesthetics, scrub, or recovery, you will be supported to develop specialist skills within ophthalmic surgery and contribute to delivering safe, effective and patient-centred care.

The successful candidate will work closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team committed to providing an excellent patient experience and achieving the highest standards of clinical care.

If you are looking for a new challenge and would like to develop your career within a specialist ophthalmic theatre environment, we would love to hear from you.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Band 5 Theatre Practitioner to join our Eye Theatres team. This role offers the opportunity to work within a highly specialised environment, caring for patients undergoing a wide range of ophthalmic procedures, including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, oculoplastics, vitreoretinal surgery, corneal procedures and emergency eye surgery.

If you are looking for a new challenge and would like to develop your career within a specialist ophthalmic theatre environment, we would love to hear from you.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:

Ruth Hamblin, Theatre Matron - Ruth.hamblin1@NHS.net

About us

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit andretaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your applicationin order toensurewe'remeeting our pledge.

Date posted

04 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum, pro rata for part time roles.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

387-S2942-GB

Job locations

Bristol Eye Hospital Theatres

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8HW

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking enthusiastic, motivated individuals with a flexible approach to join our Eye Theatres team at the Bristol Eye Hospital.

We currently have vacancies for Band 5 Theatre Practitioners (permanent and secondment opportunities considered) and are looking for practitioners to join our specialist ophthalmic theatre team.

Ideally, candidates will have experience in either scrub, anaesthetics, or recovery, with previous experience working within a multidisciplinary theatre environment. However, we welcome applications from practitioners who are keen to develop within ophthalmology, supported by our dedicated Practice Education Team who will provide any necessary training and development.

Our Eye Theatres provide a comprehensive ophthalmic surgical service, undertaking a wide range of procedures including:

Cataract surgery
Vitreoretinal surgery
Glaucoma surgery
Corneal surgery
Oculoplastic procedures
Paediatric ophthalmic surgery
Emergency ophthalmic surgery

As part of our dedicated theatre team, you will work alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and allied health professionals to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centred care. This is an excellent opportunity to develop specialist skills within a highly regarded ophthalmic service and gain experience in a variety of advanced surgical techniques and technologies.

Ophthalmic surgery continues to evolve, and our team is committed to innovation, service improvement, and professional development. We offer a supportive learning environment with opportunities to develop specialist knowledge and expand your perioperative skills across scrub, anaesthetics, and recovery practice.

As one of our dedicated Theatre Practitioners, you will work up to 37.5 hours per week, including participation in weekends, on-call commitments, and extended service provision where applicable.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse Level 8 or C or C+G 752 / NVQ level 3 Operating department practitioner / Dip HE in Operating Room Practice (A)
Training qualification or equivalent experience (A)

Desirable

Experience of working in the perioperative environment
Anaesthetic Qualification

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

Ability to develop own clinical skills and a willingness to participate in continuing professional development
Ability to take the lead, initiate and ensure appropriate action in response to the deteriorating patient
Willingness to develop teaching skills
Flexible working practices to support the service
Able to manage difficult situations
Experience of caring for sick adults in a variety of setting - this could be as a student

Desirable

Experience of working in the perioperative environment
Experience of taking charge of an individual theatre

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 (formerly known as CRB) 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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.