Healthcare Trust reveals ‘secret weapons’ of the operating theatre

Saturday, 14 May 2022 07:00

By Sam Dean

To celebrate National ODP Day this week, Operating Department Practitioners at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) are shining a light on their hidden role to inspire the next generation of local talent.

ODP’s are healthcare professionals trained specifically to care for patients in the operating theatre and are members of the team during anaesthesia, surgery and recovery.

For this year’s National ODP Day, which takes place on 14^th May, Buckinghamshire ODP’s will be sharing stories, demonstrating their roles and equipment to visitors to Stoke Mandeville and delivering career talks to schools and colleges.

Sean Allison, Principal ODP & Theatre Manager at BHT, explains: “We’re often the last person a patient sees just before they go to sleep and are the anaesthetist’s secret weapon!

We care for patients before, during and after operations and are responsible for managing theatre preparation.

This ODP Day we’re making our hidden gem of a profession more visible by sharing our career stories and teaming up with BNU to show young people and anyone considering a career change the opportunities it offers in Bucks.”

18 year old Aaron Absalom, currently in Year 13 at Holmer Green Senior School, has been offered a place on the ODP programme at BNU this September. He said: “I’m looking forward to directly caring for patients and being a valued member of a team.

"I was inspired by an ODP who talked to us at school who explained that every day is different working and you get to interact with such a wide range of people.

"I hope to return to school one day to inspire others to follow in my footsteps.”

Find out more about becoming an ODP on the Trust’s website