From removing brain tumours to delivering babies by caesarean; the amazing work of unsung NHS heroes

HAPPY TO HELP: Alex MacLeod

They’re some of the true unsung heroes of the Covid pandemic, but ask the average person on the street what an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) is and most people wouldn’t even know.

Highly trained to assist in all aspects of surgical theatre, many ODPs were taken away from their normal duties in 2020 and the early months of 2021 to swell the Covid workforce.

They left roles they knew like the back of their hand to work on unfamiliar wards, to help nurse the sick and dying, and to share the load with their fellow colleagues.

Today is National ODP Day, helping shine a light on the scores of ODPs working across Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI) and Castle Hill Hospital.

“For many people, the route to becoming an ODP isn’t always a direct or straightforward one”, says Gill MacLeod, Charge Nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

“We have ODPs in our trust who have come to the role having started out in very different careers; a porter, for example, a chef, and even someone who studied zoology at university!

“As they are most usually found supporting in surgical theatres, ODPs can often go unseen and so it’s not always the most obvious of NHS career choices, but ODPs are a vital part of the clinical team, providing valuable, professional expertise during a patient’s stay in hospital.”

ODP duties are split into three main areas:

• Anaesthetics, which involves assessing the patient before surgery, safely preparing drugs and other anaesthetic equipment, and monitoring the patient throughout their operation.

• Scrub, which sees them preparing the theatre, supporting the surgeon during operations and acting as the patient’s advocate.

• Recovery, which involves monitoring the patient after surgery to ensure they are stable and progressing well.

Although ODPs are employed within operating theatres first and foremost, because of pandemic, they are increasingly being recognised for their skills in other areas, such as intensive care and emergency care.

‘EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY CHALLENGING’: Matt Appleyard

Normally seen working across HRI’s main theatres, Matt Appleyard is one ODP who was redeployed last year as the number of planned operations fell and the need for help was felt more acutely on the trust’s Covid wards.

“My role completely changed during the pandemic,” he says.

“I was redeployed to the Covid high dependency ward for six months, which was emotionally and mentally challenging. This work involved looking after extremely ill patients who needed ventilation and high flow oxygen.

“As an ODP, we don’t normally get ward experience so I had to use transferable skills, working alongside my ward colleagues, to observe their practice and ensure patients continued to be well supported. While it was outside my comfort zone to start, I feel this has definitely made me a better practitioner; it’s improved my emotional intelligence, enabled me to better understand different parts of the hospital, and ultimately it’s helped me to improve the direct care I provide to patients.

“The learning opportunities and the sheer variety of work involved in the ODP role are really what make it so interesting and so rewarding; one day I could find myself in a team helping to remove a brain tumour, the next could be on labour ward for a caesarean section!”

Originally a hospital porter who went on to qualify as an ODP (then known as an Operating Department Assistant) in 1993, Alex MacLeod works in Breast, ENT and Plastics theatres at Castle Hill. He too was among those who stepped up to support Covid patients in their hour of need.

“During the first wave, I was responsible for preparing six extra ICU bays which could be used for patients needing ventilation,” says Alex.

“Then during the second wave I was redeployed to Ward 100 at Hull Royal, which was being used as a Covid ward. It was difficult because it was so different to my usual scope of practice, but I appreciated the unprecedented situation everybody was in and did my best to embrace the challenge, transferring my existing skill set to help however I could.

“While it was obviously a terrible time for everybody, I tried to view it was a positive experience and I was just really glad we could help.”

For more information about the work of ODPs and to find out if this is the career for you, click here.