Job overview
Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) in the trust, specifically Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital perform over eight hundred cases annually. We have six RAS theatres on both sites including Nuffield operating theatre and HCA. Further, the Trust has three different robotic platforms: Intuitive Surgical (Da Vinci), Cambridge Medical Robotics (CMR) and Hugo Medtronics. There is a total of nine robotic platforms in the Trust. Currently the SCPs covers Urology – (Prostate, Bladder, Kidney); Renal (Donor Nephrectomy and Transplant ); Thoracic; Gynaecology, Colorectal, Upper and Lower GI.
We are thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity for a qualified Surgical Care Practitioner to join our dynamic team.
For further information please email Ramesh Thurairaja () or Anne Manalaysay ()
Gabriella Ovejero ()
Closing Date: 19/04/2026
Proposed Interview Date: 29/04/2026
Main duties of the job
Working under the direct supervision of surgeon ( Urology, Renal, Colorectal, Gynaecology, Thoracic, and Upper GI.
The successful applicants will assist fellows, senior and junior clinicians during robotic surgery.
The successful candidate should have experience of bedside assisting during robotic surgery although support and training can be given where required.
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is among the UK’s busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
We have a strong history of clinical and scientific excellence. As part of King’s Health Partners, we are one of England’s eight academic health science centres, combining leading care, teaching, and research. With King’s College London, we host a National Institute for Health Research biomedical research centre (established in 2007) and dedicated clinical research facilities.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Our values sit alongside our Trust strategy, which sets out what we want to achieve. They guide how we work together and how you see our values in action every day.
Our values are:
Caring
We put patients first.
Ambitious
We innovate and strive for excellence.
Inclusive
We respect each other and work collaboratively.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
In conjunction with the Consultant Surgeon and local guidelines the postholder will:
A. Pre-operative
·To display X-rays, CT scans or PET scans and help interpret the results.
·Provide effective pre-operative assessment of the surgical patient; including history taking, physical examination, requesting diagnostic procedures or clinical investigations then interpreting and acting upon the results.
·Liaise with medical, theatre, SAL, ward and clerical staff to support coherent service provision and smoothpatientjourney to the operating theatre.
·To consent and mark surgical patients when necessary with an understanding of competence and the legal scope of the Surgical Care Practitioner.
·Lead in the promotion of patient centered care by providing accurate information relevant to their care.
·Act as an advocate for patients which ensures a patientorientated approach to the delivery of care.
·Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical team, by actively participating in the pre-operative team brief providingspecialist clinical and surgical advice to facilitate the smooth running of the theatre list, including how to prepare for non-routine steps.
Co-ordinatetheprovisionofspecialistservicestopatients,effectivelyliaisingwithmultidisciplinary colleagues including radiology, frozen section pathology and haematology
B. Peri-operative
To have superior expertise in the following duties:
·Positioning the patient for robotic surgery, with awareness of how to prevent avoidable operative injuries relating to skin, muscles and nerves.
·Skin preparation and draping for robotic surgery
·Prepping, draping, positioning and handling a range of surgical robots (da Vinci X, Xi; CMR Versius; Medtronic Hugo)
·Creating skin incisions; with awareness of how to accommodate variances in patient anatomy, physiology and body habitus to optimise robotic surgery
·Dissection of tissues using surgical instruments with a superior degree of manual dexterity
·Confident handling of energy and stapling devices
·Effective surgical haemostasis for cases with a high level of complexity
·Application of local anaesthetic, including the siting of paravertebral catheters, and administration of intercostal blocks
·Confident insertion of a variety of different surgical drains
·Suturing of all surgical wounds, even those with a high degree of complexity with emphasis on elimination of risks of infection
·Applying dressings to wounds and compression bandages
·Ensure that patients’ customs,religiousbeliefsanddoctrines are respected within the theatre setting, ensuring patient dignity at all times.
·Actively promote and participate in the WHO check list and time out before surgery.
·Take, promote and lead on the use of universal hygiene precautions to minimize the risk of infections to the patient, the surgical team, and other staff.
·Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and providingclinicalleadershipin the operating theatre
·Actively participate as a first assistant for a variety of complex robotic surgeries providing tissue retraction, applying suction, diathermy, maintaining a clear surgical field, applying haem-o-lock clips or liga clips, using a manual stapler and energy devices.
·Anticipate routine and non-routine steps before and during the procedure to provide a high level of support to consultants and surgical fellows.
·Teach, supervise and support surgical trainees and trainee SCPs to first assist during robotic surgery, providing skilled and consistentadvice and assistancewithintheoperatingtheatreunderthedirectionofaconsultantsurgeon.
·Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies; interpretinginformation,takingappropriateactionandleadingotherstodothesame.
·Have obtained advanced knowledge and surgical expertise within a specialist robotic area and be continuing towards excellence through regular education and/or participation in clinical skills labs.
·Workautonomously with proximal supervision of a Consultant, deliveringindividualisedand personaliseddirect patientcare when necessary.
Peri-operative
·Assist other team members to participate in the safe transferring and positioning of the patient.
·Ensure clear, detailed and regular communication within the department and Recovery to ensure a smooth handover.
·Maintain accurate surgical patient records
Ensure the correct labelling of specimens has been undertaken and documented.
·Ensure faulty equipment is isolated from use, using the appropriate label, and report to a responsible person.
·Document any incidents within quality and safety systems. Actively participate in the investigation and management of reported incidents.
·Support relevant pre, peri and post procedural data capture for robotic surgery
·Provide a clear, concise and effective handover to Recovery, highlighting specific post-operative concerns and specific pathways.
·Arrange appropriate post-operative investigations as part of themultidisciplinaryteamtoenhancepatientsafety,tofacilitatepatient-centeredcare andcontributetothesmoothrunningofthe hospital.
1. Post Operative
To participate in the postoperative assessments of patients with particular attention to wound care, surgical drains and catheter management.
The above is not the exhausted list of the job description; for the detailed JD, please find the attached document.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
2. Master's Degree in Surgical Care Practitioner Course
3. Registered Nurse
4. Mentorship Course
5. Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
6. Leadership Course
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
7. Extensive experience with surgical specialites
8. Experience as a surgical first assistant in Robotic Surgery
9. Experience in supervising Trainees as surgical first assistant in Robotic Surgery
10. Experience of working autonomously at an advanced level within the specialist area
11. Ability to clinically lead and manage staff
Desirable criteria
12. Hugo training completion
Skills Knowlege and Ability
Essential criteria
13. Experience of audit, research and evidence based care
14. Experience of resource and budget Management
15. Knowledge of quality standards & NICE recommendations/NSF
16. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal & communication skills
17. Time and organisation skills
Desirable criteria
18. Ability to conduct and evaluate own projects successfully
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.