Operating department practitioners (ODPs) are a vital part of the operating team, working alongside surgeons, theatre nurses and anaesthetists to provide skilled support and patient care before, during and after an operation (peri-operative). ODPs help ensure every operation is as safe and effective as possible and can be observed in a variety of theatre roles – as a scrubbed person; first assistant to the surgeon or a surgical assistant for example. More precisely, their peri-operative care can be divided into three phases:
The anaesthetist phase
The ODPs role in this phase involves clinical skills such as the preparation of drugs and specialist equipment. The ODP will also provide individual care prior to surgery and be required to communicate effectively with other members of the operating team.
The surgical phase
During this phase the ODP will play many roles including preparing and providing the surgeon with instruments and equipment, being the main source of communication through effective management and acting as a link between the theatre team and other hospital departments. The ODP will also play a role in wound management and infection control.
The recovery phase
The ODP will continue to assess and deliver patient care until the patient is stable and has recovered from the effects of anaesthesia. The ODP will assess the patient before they can be discharged back into the surgical ward and will evaluate all phases of the peri-operative care.
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