Operating Department Practitioner

Jack is training to be an operating department practitioner, a vital part of the surgical team. Here, he explains what it’s like working in a life-or-death environment.

Roles and responsibilities

If you’ve had an operation under general anaesthetic, you’ll have met an ODP. They provide highly skilled care as you go under anaesthetic, through surgery, and into your recovery. Their meticulous planning ensures a safe journey through surgery.

Make a difference as a Operating Department Practitioner…

Rose's story

‘When I came round from my operation, I felt quite scared at first. But Lizetta took the time to sit and talk to me. She reassured me that the op had gone well and made me feel at ease before my husband was able to visit me.’

Lizetta's story

‘I was sitting with Rose when she woke up. She was taking a while to recover from her anaesthetic. We had such a lovely conversation and she was so grateful for it. She made me feel like the care I was giving was valuable. It was a nice experience to talk about. ‘The best thing about this job is feeling like you're making a difference. You get a real warm feeling when patients come out and they're feeling well, or you can provide them with a little comfort before they go into the operating theatre. They can wake up and be so thankful in a really vulnerable moment.’