Operating department practice

Operating department practitioners (ODPs) care for patients at all stages of surgery. Patients may feel vulnerable or nervous and they may be in pain, and ODPs form part of the team that monitors and reassures them throughout their stay in hospital. This team includes anaesthetists, surgeons and nurses. ODPs work closely with them to make sure equipment, instruments and the environment are prepared appropriately for patients throughout the surgical process.

There are three stages to the surgical process: anaesthesia, surgery and recovery. ODPs play an important role at each stage. As well as preparing and monitoring anaesthetic and surgical equipment, they scrub up and handle and monitor equipment in the operating theatre. After an operation ODPs provide care and expertise to patients in recovery, making sure they’re managing their pain and that they’re ready to be discharged to a ward.

Many operating theatres are accessible 24 hours a day, so ODPs need to work flexible hours.  This normally involves working shifts, nights, on-call and weekends. However, the NHS also promotes working arrangements such as flexitime and part-time work. There are opportunities for ODPs to work outside the operating theatre too. They may work in other hospital departments such as X-ray, accident and emergency, intensive care, maternity and resuscitation services or as part of emergency teams, both within and outside hospitals. It’s also possible to work with GPs who carry out minor surgery or with any of the armed forces.

Developments within the profession mean that it’s now possible for ODPs to build up specialist clinical areas of interest and to study mentoring and management courses or enter education to progress their careers. In the ever-changing health service, career opportunities for ODPs are increasing both in the NHS and the independent sector.

New developments

The professional qualification for a registered ODP is currently a diploma in higher education, although there are plans to move this to a degree qualification in 2010. Continuous training and development are also a requirement and essential to the work of ODPs. The College of Operating Department Practitioners, as the professional body for ODPs, is also central to developments in the profession. Part of its current work is to look at amendments to the law to enable ODPs developing their practice by handling drugs to do so within the law.

Skills required

• Adaptability and the ability to think ahead.
• An appropriate sense of humour: respecting patients’ needs while working in a stressful environment.
• Confidence with the ability to inspire confidence from patients.
• Good communication skills and the ability to speak up on behalf of the patient.

Starting out

A diploma in higher education in operating department practice is usually a two-year programme although some institutions have variations. After completing the course you’ll be eligible to register with the Health Professions Council and this will allow you to practise. Usually a job is available on qualifying in the hospital where you trained. For more information, visit the College of Operating Department Practitioners.

In brief

• Best bits
  You can really see where you are making a difference and changing people’s lives.
  The variety and constant challenges maintain your interest.
• Worst bits
  Sometimes cases can be upsetting.
  Work can be tiring with long hours and on-call shifts.
• Don’t bother if...
  ... you don’t have high energy levels.
  ... you can’t work as part of a team.
  ... you don’t like responsibility.

JANE WARDLE is a registered operating department practitioner at SOUTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL. She has a diploma in higher education in operating department practice from the University of Surrey and is currently studying for a degree in perioperative care at the University of Portsmouth.