Your ODP

Who is the ODP?

The ODP (Operating Department Practitioner) is an independent practitioner working alongside other professionals in the operating theatre, including Doctors, Nurses and health care support workers. The ODP has identical responsibilities as their Nursing colleagues when caring for their patient in the perioperative environment. 

ODP’s like nurses are registered professionals and they must adhere to codes of conducts and standards. To ensure the safe and transparent practice of ODP’s they are registered to a governing body called the Health & Care Professionals council (HCPC)        

You may encounter ODPs in three main areas of an operating theatre. The first is in the anaesthetic room, where it is their responsibilities to ensure equipment is safe and prepared, ensuring the correct drugs are available and to aid the Anaesthetist in the safe induction of anaesthesia. 

The second area is as a scrub practitioner, whose responsibilities include the safe preparation of the surgical environment, the counting of instruments and swabs that may be used during surgery and finally the documentation of any specimens and procedures.