About this role
Job summary
Are you organised, proactive, and passionate about supporting patient care behind the scenes? Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a Theatre Instrument and Loan Kit Assistant to join our Chorley Theatre Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in ensuring surgical teams have the instruments and equipment they need to deliver safe and effective patient care. Working closely with theatre staff, Sterile Services, procurement teams, and external suppliers, you will help manage instrument trays, loan kits, and stock required for a wide range of surgical procedures.
As a key member of the team, you will support the smooth day-to-day running of theatres by ensuring equipment is received, processed, tracked, stored, and returned correctly. Your attention to detail and organisational skills will directly contribute to patient safety and the efficiency of theatre services. Please note: This role is not eligible for sponsorship.
Main duties of the job
- You'll play an important role in supporting surgeons, theatre teams, and patients by helping ensure the right equipment is available at the right time.
- You'll develop specialist knowledge of surgical instruments, loan kits, and theatre processes within a busy healthcare environment.
- You'll work collaboratively with a range of teams across the Trust, building strong professional relationships.
- You'll be supported to develop your skills and knowledge through training and personal development opportunities.
- You'll be part of a team dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care and maintaining high standards of safety and quality.
If you are highly organised, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and take pride in supporting others to deliver excellent care, we'd love to hear from you.
About us
We have over 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area and provide specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire and Cumbria. Working with us gives you the opportunity to make a genuine difference every day. You'll develop new skills, work alongside experienced colleagues, and become part of a team committed to delivering excellent care with compassion. We are dedicated to supporting our staff through learning and development opportunities, promoting innovation, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Everything we do centres around our patients, and every member of our team plays an important role in helping us deliver outstanding healthcare.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Foster and maintain effective working relationships with:
- Sterile Services (HSDU)
- Procurement Teams
- Theatre Teams
- Clinical Managers
- Company Representatives and Suppliers
- Deal with day-to-day enquiries relating to theatre instrumentation and loan kits.
- Receive and check loan kits against accompanying documentation.
- Escalate discrepancies, missing items, or damaged equipment promptly.
- Ensure all loan kits are processed, tracked, and made available for theatre use within required timescales.
- Arrange and monitor the return of loan kits to suppliers following surgery.
- Handle, transport, and store instrument trays safely in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
- Assist in maintaining an instrument library to support replacement of missing or damaged instruments.
- Support the tracking of instruments and trays between theatres and Sterile Services.
- Assist with stock checks and audits to support safe stock levels and minimise wastage.
- Report concerns relating to damaged instruments, equipment, expired stock, or safety risks.
- Promote and maintain high standards of infection prevention, cleanliness, and patient safety.
- Maintain accurate documentation and records relating to instrumentation and loan kit activity.
- Participate in mandatory training, appraisal, and ongoing professional development.
- Contribute to service improvement initiatives and support the delivery of high-quality theatre services.
The successful candidate will be committed to upholding Trust values and will contribute to maintaining a safe, efficient, and patient-focused theatre environment.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of dealing with the public
- Understanding of the concept and application of confidentiality
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a health care or theatre setting.
- Basic understand of infection control principles.
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Demonstrable numeracy and literacy skills in line with Level 1/Grade D/Grade 3 or above
Desirable
- Level 2 QCF diploma (Qualification Credit Framework) in healthcare / NVQ level 2
- GCSE Maths & English grade C or above / Grade 4 - 9 OR Functional skills level 2 numeracy and Functional Skills level 2 literacy skills
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Chorley and South Ribble Hospital
Preston Road
Chorley
PR7 1PP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)