Pre-Operative Healthcare Assistant

We are seeking an experienced Healthcare Assistant (Band 3) to support the delivery of a busy Pre-Operative Assessment service at Southend Hospital. This role has been established to increase capacity and support patients progressing through their elective surgical pathway without unnecessary delays.

Working alongside the Pre-Assessment Nursing Team, you will support the assessment and preparation of patients across a range of elective surgical specialties, including Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, and Head & Neck services.

Main duties of the job

• Support nurse-led pre-operative assessment clinics.
• Assist with patient assessments and preparation for elective surgery.
• Complete and maintain accurate patient documentation.
• Input clinical information and outcomes onto Trust systems.
• Support the patient journey by ensuring assessments are completed efficiently and to Trust standards.
• Escalate any concerns or significant findings to the appropriate nursing team member.
• Maintain high standards of patient care and confidentiality at all times.

About us

Xyla are a leading provider of clinical and community healthcare services across the UK, recognised for their commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. Working in close collaboration with NHS trusts, Integrated Care Systems (ICS), and local authorities, Xyla supports the delivery of essential services that help improve patient outcomes while reducing pressure on frontline healthcare providers.

Their service offering spans a wide range of areas, including diagnostic services, specialist outpatient pathways, waiting list management, mental health support, and community-based care. By leveraging experienced clinical teams alongside innovative service models, Xyla is able to deliver flexible and scalable solutions tailored to the needs of each healthcare partner.

A key strength of Xyla lies in their ability to enhance patient access to care, particularly in addressing NHS backlogs and improving pathway efficiency. Their focus on early intervention, preventative care, and timely diagnosis supports better long-term health outcomes while helping to optimise system capacity.

Underpinned by robust clinical governance frameworks and a strong emphasis on quality, safety, and compliance, Xyla maintains high standards of care across all services. This, combined with a collaborative approach and a deep understanding of NHS priorities, positions them as a trusted partner in supporting the ongoing transformation and sustainability of healthcare services across the UK.

Job responsibilities

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Healthcare Assistant (Band 3) to support the delivery of a busy Pre-Operative Assessment service at Southend Hospital. This role has been established to increase capacity and support patients progressing through their elective surgical pathway without unnecessary delays.

Working alongside the Pre-Assessment Nursing Team, you will support the assessment and preparation of patients across a range of elective surgical specialties, including Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, and Head & Neck services.

Key Responsibilities

• Support nurse-led pre-operative assessment clinics.
• Assist with patient assessments and preparation for elective surgery.
• Complete and maintain accurate patient documentation.
• Input clinical information and outcomes onto Trust systems.
• Support the patient journey by ensuring assessments are completed efficiently and to Trust standards.
• Escalate any concerns or significant findings to the appropriate nursing team member.
• Maintain high standards of patient care and confidentiality at all times.

Service Information

• Outpatient pre-assessment service.
• Supporting approximately 840-1,008 patients per month.
• Clinics delivered across a variety of elective surgical specialties.
• Approximately 10-12 patient appointments per session.
• Working as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Pre-Assessment Department.
• Previous experience working as a Healthcare Assistant within an NHS or healthcare setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience supporting patients through clinical assessment pathways.
• Ability to maintain accurate patient records and documentation.
• Understanding of confidentiality, infection prevention, and safeguarding principles.
• Compliance with all mandatory training requirements.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Minimum of 6 months experience working within the NHS in the last year.
• Must have demonstratable pre-assessment experience with elective surgical patients (1 year minimum).

IT Systems

• PAS
• EPR

Training & Induction

Successful candidates will receive an induction prior to commencing. Trust-specific training and IT access requirements will be completed before undertaking clinical duties.

If you are an experienced Healthcare Assistant looking for an opportunity to support elective surgical services within a leading NHS Trust, we would like to hear from you.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working as a Healthcare Assistant within an NHS or healthcare setting.
• Minimum of 1 years experience within pre-assessment with elective surgical patients across relevant specialities i.e. Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, and Head & Neck.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience supporting patients through clinical assessment pathways.
• Ability to maintain accurate patient records and documentation.
• Understanding of confidentiality, infection prevention, and safeguarding principles.
• Compliance with all mandatory training requirements.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Experience

• Must have demonstrable pre-assessment experience with elective surgical patients (1 year minimum) across relevant specialties including Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, and Head & Neck.
• Minimum 6 months experience working in the NHS within the last year.

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.