Operating Department Practitioners work in three key areas; anaesthetics, surgery and recovery. In anaesthetics, the role involves assisting the anaesthetist during general and local anaesthetics.

In surgery, they will participate as part of the operative team, meeting a variety of patients from very small children to older adults and perform a number of roles, including the scrubbed role.

In recovery the ODP will receive, assess and deliver patient care on the patient’s arrival into the recovery area. They will monitor the patient, providing appropriate interventions and treatment until the patient has recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia and/or surgery and is stable.

The professional body for  ODPs is the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) | UNISON partnerships | UNISON National