About this episode
Today is ODP Day - #ODPDay! So I was approached by Carrie Biddle, regional Head of Allied Health Professionals for the South-west region, to help raise awareness of this important profession and hopefully encourage some new people to think ‘this is for me!’ ???But what is an ODP? ?????An Operating Department Practitioner.Works in operating theatres …Still none the wiser?Join us as Anitha Rego, a theatre nurse from Torbay, and Sue Robb, an ODP from Gloucestershire, discuss their respective roles and talk about their career paths and opportunities. Sue started out as a hospital porter!??? Lemon lightbulbs:An ODP is a crucial member of the team in theatresLanguage can be unhelpful. ODP. “We do get confused with the outpatients department”!There was more flexibility during Covid and teamwork was strong. Multi professional teams – with the patient in the centre!The career path can be a bit unclear for students – more opportunities than you might think!The human side – smiling and being human, despite the masks and gownsIt’s harder to get feedback – because the patients are often asleep!See the whole person, not just the condition – people might be confused after the anaesthetic, not just because they have dementia!The human touch. Sometimes holding a hand says it allKindness mattersCreativity rocks - Kevin Duff – an ODP used creativity – a poem made into a video – to get people learning about his roleOne size does not fit all. Don’t ask an ODP why they don’t want to become a nurse?Nurse Terri Porrett was asked why she didn’t want to become a doctor!Recovering from the pandemic. Important project around waiting times by LSBUL Health systems innovation labDoing what was necessary for the situation. Mask fitting!Smiling with your eyes! Despite the face masksInnovation in the pandemic. A shout out for Rachel Grimaldi, founder of CardMedicThe theatre cap challenge! Humanising health care.Theatre teams are friendly and often have fun.Become an ODPAnd ( in one hours researching for this episode, I came across this amazing video poem produced by Kevin Duff, and ODP himself, for ODP awareness day 2021. I love it.Kevin Duff – if you get to read this – perhaps I could embed the poem, properly attributed of course, into the actual podcast. Anyway, here is the YouTube link as the video is fantastic too! https://youtu.be/lxYZ7bkodhUWe LOVE it when you leave a review!If you enjoy my podcast and find these conversations usefulplease share your thoughts by leaving a review (Spotify or Apple are easiest to leave a review - navigate via 3 dots) and comment on your favourite episodes.Connect with me - Gill Phil
