Skip to main content Skip to accessibility tools

Roles in our theatres team and critical care

Theatre practitioner - anaesthetic

Anaesthetic practitioners - also known as operating department practitioners (ODP) - provide planned care for patients undergoing anaesthetic procedures.

They assist the anaesthetist by setting up and monitoring equipment, carrying out vital signs monitoring on the patient and ensuring the patient is safely positioned on the operating table ready for surgery to begin. 

What experience/qualifications do you need? 

To be an anaesthetic practitioner at Royal Papworth Hospital you need to be a qualified operating department practitioner, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council or you need to be a registered nurse with a relevant anaesthetic qualification. Some experience of cardiothoracic anaesthetics is useful but not essential. 

You should possess the following attributes:

  • Effective communication at all levels and disciplines within the department and wider hospital.
  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Outstanding teamwork.
  • A strong work ethic.

In return we offer:

  • Comprehensive orientation and support package provided.
  • Professional development opportunities including ILS and CALS.
  • Full time (24/7 shift requirement) + departmental and transplant service on-call commitment.

Interested in finding out more? 

If you are interested and want to be a part of our exciting future, or would like further information, please call 01223 638000 and contact one of the team below on:

Apply for the anaesthetic practitioner vacancy at Royal Papworth Hospital. This is a Band 5 post with a salary range of £24,214 - £30,112. 

Closing date: Sunday 29 November 2020.

Perfusionist

Perfusionists are clinical scientists that work as part of the multi-disciplinary team in theatres and critical care. 

Their main responsibility is to run the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery. The heart-lung machine, also known as cardiopulmonary bypass, does the job of a person's heart by keeping their organs supplied with oxygenated blood during heart surgery. This allows the surgeons time to work on the heart.

The perfusionist will monitor the patient's blood gases and chemistry while on bypass and makes adjustments and administers drugs if needed. 

Perfusionists are also involved in critical care with ECMO - extra-corporeal membrance oxygenation - which is used for patients who are in acute respiratory failure. They will join the team who go out to retrieve patients from other hospitals who need ECMO support. 

What experience/qualifications do you need? 

  • Perfusion students must have a science degree. You then complete a master's degree while learning the practical side of your job at the hospital.

Interest in finding out more?

Perfusion at Royal Papworth Hospital is provided by Cambridge Perfusion Services. Email them at enquiries@cambridgeperfusionservices.co.uk. 

Theatre practitioner - scrub nurse

This role involves the care of the patient undergoing anaesthesia before surgery, including the preparation of specialist equipment for various types of cardiothoracic procedures. 

You will be trained to support the theatre team throughout surgery and also to complement our transplant, pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), ventricular assist devices (VAD) and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) services. 

At Royal Papworth Hospital we offer:

  • Comprehensive orientation and support package provided.
  • Professional development opportunities including ILS and CALS.
  • Full time (24/7 shift requirement) + departmental and transplant service on-call commitment.

What experience/qualifications do you need? 

  • You need to be a registered professional, either as a registered nurse (RN) or an operating department practitioner (ODP). 
  • A past experience working within a similar environment is desirable but not essential.

Interested in finding out more?

If you are interested and want to be a part of our exciting future, or would like further information, please call 01223 638000 and contact one of the team below on:

Surgical care practitioner


As the largest and leading specialist cardiothoracic hospital in the UK, Royal Papworth Hospital is dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care through the excellence of our caring staff.

We are looking for dynamic registered healthcare professionals to join our expanding SCP team. Successful candidates will undertake a full two-year internal training program and the MSc in Surgical Care Practice at Anglian Ruskin University along with the ACTSCP exam at the completion of training.

The training program will also develop the skills required to assist in all aspects of pre, peri and post-operative care of patients. We will support you to achieve your potential by offering you a programme of development from experienced theatre staff and dedicated SCP educators.

If you are looking to become a highly trained and skilled cardiothoracic surgical care practitioner, Royal Papworth will give you:

  • A dynamic and friendly working environment.
  • An opportunity to join our large team of SCPs.
  • The chance to participate in some of the newest techniques in cardiothoracic surgery.

What experience/qualifications do you need? 

  • You need to be a registered professional, either as a registered nurse (RN) or an operating department practitioner (ODP). 
  • A degree of a qualification equivalent to a degree
  • Minimum of two years' experience qualification in Theatres or Critical Care (preferably Cardiac)

You should also be highly motivated and have excellent communication and organisational skills and the ability to deal with ever changing priorities. 

Interested in finding out more?

We are currently recruiting for a trainee surgical care practitioner. For further information, and to arrange an informal visit, please contact: 

  • Amanda Acott, Senior SCP (01223 639318) Email: amanda.acott@nhs.net. 
  • Anita Frith, Senior SCP (01223 638000 - Bleep 213)
Staff nurse - critical care

This is an excellent opportunity for registered and newly qualified nurses to join our critical care nursing team. 

We are looking for dynamic, motivated and compassionate registered nurses to join our highly specialist and internationally renowned mutli-disciplinary team.

Our 46-bed critical care unit is one of the largest and busiest in the East of England region. With state-of-the-art facilities we are able to provide outstanding compassionate and holistic care to our patients.

As a tertiary referral centre we look after some of the sickest patients who are referred to us for a variety of specialist services such as our ECMO (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) service, heart and lung transplant programme and emergency PPCI pathway. Working in this environment is challenging and rewarding.

To care for our patients we need a highly skilled and innovative team. We will support your development through every stage of your career with our dedicated critical care education team.

Our well-established programme for registered nurses will be tailored to you, combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for you to excel in your role. You will have access to expert clinical mentors and higher education programmes such as the Critical Care Course at degree or master’s level, funded places at international conferences, Critical Care rotations and careers coaching for progression in more specialist roles.

Interested in finding out more?

We are currently recruiting for critical care nurses. For further information, and to arrange an informal visit, please contact: 

We offer a £1,000 welcome payment applicable to those who commence on substantive contracts with a commitment to remain with the Trust for a minimum of 12 months (excludes Bank contracts).

 

Critical care lead nurse

The lead nurse in Critical Care plays a vital role in creating an environment where:

  • Staff are happy working and developing to their full potential.
  • The unit is constantly improving the care and health of patients.
  • We ensure safe and effective patient flow through innovative and excellent care pathways.

We are at the forefront of elective, surgical and emergency pathways and highly specialised services including transplantation and ECMO. 

We innovate in the way we train, educate and develop staff to deliver safe, excellent care will be key to your success in the role.

What experience/qualifications do you need? 

  • At least two years cardiothoracic critical care experience at Band 7.
  • ECMO specialist.
  • Cardiac surgery specialist.
  • Expert clinical practice.
  • Formal and informal teaching experience.
  • Research/audit experience.
  • Experience in working collaboratively across professional.
 

Surgeons: At the edge of life

Procedures featured in series
Working here
Back to Surgeons: At the Edge of Life
Back to Surgeons: At the Edge of Life