Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are highly skilled healthcare practitioners that support patients of all ages during each phase of the patient’s perioperative care:

Anaesthetic – provide patient-centred care and prepare specialist equipment and drugs
Surgical – prepare all the necessary equipment and instruments for operations and providing these to the surgical team during the operation
Recovery – supporting the patient throughout their time in the recovery ward, assessing vitals and fitness for return to the ward
As well as providing this specialised care, ODPs are responsible for preparing the operating theatre and maintaining communication between the surgical team, operating theatre and wider hospital.

ODPs typically work in operating departments however their skills are increasingly being needed in other critical care areas within a hospital.