Celebrating our wonderful Operating Department Practitioners on ODP Day
Today (14 May) marks National ODP Day – a day on which we celebrate the work of all our wonderful Operating Department Practitioners!
ODPs look after patients on their journey through surgery in our operating theatres across UHDB, and are trained in three key areas: anaesthetics, the operation itself and in patient recovery, with patient safety being the key objective of ODPs at all times.
This varied role includes everything from providing comfort to patients to preparing operating theatres with the correct equipment needed for the upcoming procedures and providing a vital link between the surgical and theatre teams and other clinical teams.
Grace Pearn, Director of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) which encompasses our ODPs, said: “They’ve got a range of skills and we’ve got people here who’ve come through the organisation who started with us as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) and worked their way up to become an ODP through their training.
“Thank you to all of our ODPs and for their contribution to looking after our patients and providing excellent care.”
Our ODPs have played a vital role during Covid-19, support colleagues in various different clinical environments.
Lloyd Balatongan, OPD at Royal Derby Hospital, explained the challenges that ODPs have faced working through the pandemic:
“We’ve all been moved around as we were redeployed, and it’s been very hard thing to do, especially to say goodbye to your team that you’re used to working with. But thank you very much, we have been very proud to be part of these teams.”
Unison is hosting a free live streaming event for ODP Day at 7pm on YouTube. This will be a chance to hear from members of the College’s Professional Council about the work they do on your behalf and for them to thank you for all ODPs do.