Theatre Scheduler

Job Summary

We are looking for a full‑time theatre scheduler to work primarily with elective recovery across the surgical division to enable the Trust to maximise theatre utilisation internally and with additional theatre sessions to reduce waiting times for patients.

You will be required to cross‑cover during annual leave and periods of absence and will need excellent communication skills and organisational abilities.

Strong IT skills are desirable, along with experience of working in a pressurised environment.

You will be required to work autonomously, prioritising your own workload and acting on your own initiative.

• Date posted: 27 February 2026
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band:
  Band 4
• Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata
• Contract:
  
  Fixed term
• Duration: 12 months
• Working pattern:
  Full‑time
• Reference number: 412-S&C-7681187-A
• Job locations:
  Leighton Hospital, Middlewich Road, Crewe, CW1 4QJ

• Managing patients in line with Trust Access Policy and Scheduling Policy.
• Scheduling the patients into theatre lists within the 18 week RTT date; this is done in conjunction with the Consultants ensuring that all lists are fully utilised.
• The post holder will be expected to meet at least weekly with consultants to review waiting lists and theatre utilisation.
• Prioritise the patients on a clinical need basis as indicated by the Consultant whilst identifying any breach patient to the Consultants for them to date appropriately.
• Escalating potential breach patients to the Support Manager or Service Manager.
• Arrange the pre‑operative assessment date for the patients to ensure that this is done in advance of the TCI date.
• Liaise with the patients via telephone and provide written communication to confirm all dates and relevant information required for the TCI.
• Communicate with patients and their representatives both verbally and in writing confirming pre‑operative and admission dates.
• Responsible for the patient demographics being accurately added onto the PCS system within 7 days of the Decision to Admit.
• Ensure all relevant patient information, including GP, home address, and alternative contact numbers, holiday dates etc are accurate and recorded.
• Full compliance with Access policy.
• Monitor closely on a daily basis the Waiting List report and action accordingly, reporting on bottlenecks and avoiding patient breaches.
• Ensuring all theatre sessions are populated 2 months in advance and planned 3 months ahead.
• To proactively identify opportunities for improvement, efficiency of waiting list administration and the utilisation of elective capacity.
• Ensuring patients are given no less than three weeks notice of TCI date. Where shorter notice periods are given the reason must be recorded on PCS.
• To ensure the case mix of patients booked on lists to ensure optimal utilisation of theatre time. This is achieved through a thorough working knowledge and close working relationship with clinicians.
• To maintain the continuity of communication with the clinician in the administration of the waiting list. Liaise with clinical staff and secretaries regarding the status of patients whose waiting list entries have been recorded as deferred or suspended.
• Complete and record outcomes of offer on PCS, ensuring accurate information reflecting refusals of reasonable offers of admission for non‑clinical reasons thus are providing an audit trail on all episodes.
• To rebook all hospital initiated cancellations within 28 days, taking into account the patient waiting time avoiding potential breaches and ensure all actions are communicated to relevant general managers promptly.
• Daily liaison with bed managers and wards, ensuring patients are updated on the bed situation, contacting clinicians to prioritise patients.
• Assist the PALS and complaints department with patient information.
• Comply with all Trust policies and be aware of Health & Safety in the working environment.
• To work on own initiative and communicate closely with the Access Managers, compile and present data when required.
• In accordance with the Trust Access policy, to remove patients from the waiting list and ensure full…