Nursing staff wanted: Must have a sense of humour...

AT first glance, it seemed like a straightforward advert for a nursing support worker post.

But the small print surprised jobseekers when it went on to warn the successful candidate would have to cope with ‘complaints from irate surgeons due to the pressures and constraints of the environment’.

It also told interested parties they risked dealing with ‘verbal and physically aggressive behaviour from patients’ under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde dismissed the job description as a ‘practical joke’ and said it ‘slipped through’ checks before being posted on job websites.

It also emerged that despite the advert’s blunt wording, 61 people still applied for the apparent vacancy at Gartnavel General Hospital with a starting salary of £15,358 to work

‘This really isn’t funny’

37.5 hours including nightshifts and weekends.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: ‘Clearly, this is a job description that appears to be written as a practical joke and unfortunately has slipped through our HR checks before being posted.’

The NHS Careers website describes theatre support workers as ‘ an essential part of the operating department team’ who transfer patients, look after vital theatre equipment and maintain clean and tidy operating areas.

The ‘spoof ’ advert has angered staff and one worker said: ‘This really isn’t funny. I am horrified that someone would seek to make fun of lower-paid workers being subjected to abuse.

‘There are posters hanging around the hospital stating we won’t accept verbal or physical abuse f rom patients, but this job description was telling us we should not only expect this from surgeons but that we will also sign a contract agreeing to it.’