This week one of our members Angela McPhee will be taking over the NHS twitter page. Angela hopes to highlight the work of an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP). Angela studied at Northumbria University, qualifying as an ODP in 2011 and started working in anaesthetics for Gateshead Foundation Trust at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. You can follow Angela’s tweets here.
An ODP works as part of the team in operating theatres providing a vital role during anaesthesia, surgery and recovery as well as providing physical and psychological care of patients. In partnership with Gateshead FT they created a fantastic video to demonstrate what an ODP does, you can find it on Youtube.
The College of Operating Department Practitioners, which is part of UNISON falls under the Science, Technical and Therapy (STAT) occupational group, which is also part of UNISON’s health service group. If you are an ODP the CODP has their own Facebook page and website.
A recent achievement for our ODP members is from April 2017 they will be officially recognised by Allied Health Professionals (AHP). Bill Kilvington, the president of the College of Operating Department Practitioners states the benefits likely to result from this association include better representation during workforce planning activities and improved access to continuing professional development at national and regional levels.
We hope you are able to follow Angela on twitter and get some insights into what a day in the life of an ODP is like.
Photo by Penny Day