Endoscopy Pre-Assessment Lead

Job overview

Band 7 Endoscopy Pre-Assessment Lead & Anaesthetic Coordinator

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) for a Band 7 Endoscopy Pre-Assessment Lead & Anaesthetic Coordinator to join our expanding Endoscopy Service.

The Pre-Assessment Service is vital for maximising patient safety, improving care quality, and supporting service efficiency. It reduces DNAs, same-day cancellations, and repeat procedures by ensuring patients are clinically optimised, prepared, and safely booked, including those with complex co-morbidities or requiring General Anaesthesia (GA).

This senior clinical role provides professional, operational, and clinical leadership to the Pre-Assessment service, supporting its development in line with PRUH’s growing Endoscopy service. The post holder will work closely with Consultants, Anaesthetists, Radiologists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and the wider MDT to deliver safe, effective, patient-centred pathways.

A key focus is leading pre-assessment and GA pathway coordination, including telephone and face-to-face assessments, investigation management, and anaesthetic referrals. The post holder will lead a team of Pre-Assessment nurses and anaesthetic staff while maintaining clinical competence to support a high-quality nurse-led service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide clinical, professional, and operational leadership to the Endoscopy Pre-Assessment Service and coordinate the anaesthetic nurse/ODP, ensuring safe, efficient, patient-centred pathways for all endoscopic procedures, including those under General Anaesthesia (GA).

Clinical Leadership: Lead the Pre-Assessment Service, ensuring patients are optimised, assessed, and prepared. Manage complex and high-risk patients, undertake and oversee telephone and face-to-face assessments, coordinate investigations, and refer for anaesthetic review. Maintain clinical credibility and act as a resource for the MDT.

Anaesthetic Coordination: Lead and coordinate the GA pathway, liaising with Anaesthetics, Radiology, Theatre, and ward teams. Ensure timely anaesthetic review, monitor GA lists, reduce cancellations, and maintain standardised pathways and documentation.

Service Delivery & Workforce: Reduce DNAs, cancellations, and repeat procedures through robust pre-assessment. Lead and manage Pre-Assessment nurses and anaesthetic staff, ensure safe staffing, and support appraisals, recruitment, retention, and workforce development.

Governance, Audit & Improvement: Contribute to JAG Accreditation, maintain high standards of documentation, respond to incidents and complaints, and support CQC inspections. Lead audit and quality improvement, report on activity and performance, and use feedback to drive service improvements.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will provide clinical, professional and operational leadership to the Endoscopy Pre-Assessment Service and Anaesthetic pathway, ensuring that patients are safely assessed, clinically optimised and appropriately prepared for all endoscopic procedures, including those undertaken under General Anaesthesia (GA).

The role is central to reducing DNAs, cancellations and repeat procedures, improving patient experience, and supporting the delivery of an efficient, high-quality endoscopy service. The post holder will work closely with Consultant Gastroenterologists, Colorectal Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Radiologists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Service Managers and the wider MDT to deliver safe, effective and timely patient pathways.

Clinical responsibilities

Provide senior clinical leadership for the Endoscopy Pre-Assessment Service, including complex and high-risk patients.

Undertake and oversee telephone and face-to-face pre-assessment clinics, including for patients requiring General Anaesthesia.

Coordinate and request investigations (blood tests, ECGs, imaging and other diagnostics) in line with agreed protocols.

Review investigation results and escalate concerns to clinicians to ensure safe and effective booking decisions.

Refer patients for anaesthetic review where required and ensure timely clearance for GA lists.

Maintain clinical credibility through regular clinical practice within pre-assessment and endoscopy areas.

Act as a clinical resource to the Endoscopy MDT, providing expert, evidence-based advice.

Support patients to make informed decisions about their care in line with Trust booking policies.

Respond to clinical incidents and contribute to investigation, learning and improvement.

Anaesthetic Coordination Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the Endoscopy GA pathway, ensuring safe, timely and efficient patient flow.

Act as the main liaison between Endoscopy, Anaesthetics, Radiology, Theatre and Bed Management teams.

Monitor GA waiting lists, cancellations and utilisation, identifying and addressing barriers to delivery.

Develop and maintain standardised GA pre-assessment pathways, protocols and documentation.

Ensure high-risk patients are appropriately triaged and prioritised.

Service Delivery and Pathway Management

Reduce DNAs, same-day cancellations and repeat procedures through robust pre-assessment and booking processes.

Work closely with the Endoscopy booking and administrative teams to ensure patients are listed safely and efficiently.

Liaise with ward managers, bed managers, admission and discharge teams to support complex admissions.

Support delivery of safe, efficient endoscopy pathways for elective, urgent and two-week-wait patients.

Leadership and Workforce Management

Lead and manage a team of Pre-Assessment nurses, providing clinical supervision and professional leadership.

Ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill mix within the Pre-Assessment and GA coordination service.

Conduct appraisals, manage sickness absence and support staff development in line with Trust policies.

Support recruitment, induction, retention and succession planning.

Governance, Quality and JAG Compliance

Lead and contribute to JAG Accreditation requirements relevant to Pre-Assessment and GA pathways.

Ensure compliance with Trust policies, national guidance and professional standards.

Maintain high standards of documentation and data quality.

Lead investigation and response to complaints, incidents and patient safety concerns.

Support preparation for CQC and external inspections.

Audit, Reporting and Service Improvement

Lead audit and quality improvement activity within the Pre-Assessment and Anaesthetic pathways.

Produce monthly and annual reports on activity, DNAs, cancellations, GA utilisation and quality indicators.

Present performance and improvement plans at Endoscopy governance and Users Group meetings.

Use audit, incident data and patient feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Professional Responsibilities

Maintain NMC registration and practise in accordance with the NMC Code.

Participate in appraisal, revalidation and continuing professional development.

Act as a role model for high-quality, patient-centred care, professionalism and leadership.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of Endoscopy Nursing pre assessment
• Experience of Endoscopy/anaesthetic Nursing
• Understanding of JAG Quality standards
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in teaching, mentoring and assessment
• Demonstrates evidence of developing innovative practice and of being proactive in managing change

Desirable criteria

• Experience of Service Development and Change Management
• Awareness of key issues in post qualification nurse education

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Achieved or be working towards Practice Supervisor and Assessor course

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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