Surgical First Assistant - Maxillofacial Surgery

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Theatre Practitioner to join the Maxillofacial Surgery team as a Surgical First Assistant , primarily based at University Hospital Aintree with close links across the wider Maxillofacial service.

The Maxillofacial service provides a comprehensive range of elective and emergency care across the Aintree and Royal Liverpool sites, including facial trauma, head and neck surgery, orthognathic procedures, oral surgery, skin cancer treatment, salivary gland surgery, and complex reconstructive work. The team works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment alongside oncology, radiology, anaesthetics, restorative dentistry, and specialist nursing teams.

As a Surgical First Assistant, you will work closely with consultants and senior surgeons to support the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality peri-operative care. The role involves assisting in a broad range of complex surgical procedures, including facial trauma management, reconstructive surgery, and advanced Maxillofacial interventions using specialised equipment and technology.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly skilled and supportive specialist team, contributing to outstanding patient care while further developing advanced surgical and peri-operative expertise within a dynamic surgical environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and set up specialist Maxillofacial surgical equipment, instruments, implants, and consumables, ensuring readiness for OMFS procedures.
• Support safe patient positioning, maintaining airway protection, pressure area care, and optimal surgical access.
• Assist surgeons during procedures by providing tissue retraction, maintaining haemostasis, cutting sutures and ligatures, and inserting drains as delegated.
• Operate specialised surgical equipment, including powered instruments, diathermy, suction devices, endoscopic equipment, and OMFS-specific instruments.
• Undertake skin closure using sutures or staples within agreed competencies and under appropriate delegation.
• Maintain aseptic technique and comply with all theatre, infection prevention, and safety standards.
• Demonstrate safe patient handling practices throughout the peri-operative pathway.
• Ensure the safe use, care, maintenance, and storage of surgical equipment.
• Perform peri-operative catheterisation when required and within competency and Trust policy.
• Apply correct draping techniques to maintain patient dignity, privacy, and a sterile field.
• Promote a safe, patient-centred theatre environment, demonstrating professionalism, teamwork, and compassionate care.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.

Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.

Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year.

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Barry Atherton Job title: Assistant Director of Nursing Email address: Telephone number:

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