Each member of the Theatre Team has specific responsibilities, illustrated by the links below.

Select each role to learn more about their specific responsibilities.

Click on one of the highlighted roles.

Anaesthetist

The anaesthetist:

Ensures safe anaesthesia for surgery
Is responsible for patient safety in theatre
Ensures the anaesthetic machine and drugs are checked and correct
Makes a postoperative plan with the surgeon

ODP/ODA/Anaesthetic Nurse

The ODP/ODA/anaesthetic nurse assists the anaesthetist. Note that a patient should never be anaesthetized without a trained assistant present.

Surgeon

The surgeon ensures that the patient is adequately prepared and consented for the correct operation, performs the operation, and cares for the patient postoperatively.

Theatre Sister

The theatre sister is in charge of the theatre. Their role is to:

Coordinate the theatre team in association with the anaesthetist, and to liaise with the theatre coordinator (in charge of the whole theatre suite)
Ensure trays of sterile instruments are available
Coordinate the theatre nurses/scrub team
Check that no swabs or instruments are missing at the end of surgery

Theatre Nurses

The theatre nurses assist the surgeon and the theatre sister in providing safe surgery.

Physician Assistant (Anaesthesia)

The Physician Assistant (Anaesthesia), or
PA(A) works under the direct supervision of a consultant anaesthetist to assist in the provision of anaesthesia for surgery. A consultant must always be present at induction and reversal of anaesthesia, but PA(A)s are able to maintain anaesthesia in suitable patients within an anaesthetic plan decided by the consultant.