Operating department practitioner

You would care for patients before, during and after an operation. You’d make sure that the operating theatre and the equipment is prepared for the surgical team.

You would:

• Prepare the operating theatre

• Prepare equipment such as drips, instruments, dressings and swabs

• Check the cleanliness of the operating theatre

• Make sure specialist equipment is available for specific procedures

• Give the surgical team items during an operation – often called 'circulating duties'

• Monitor instruments

• Order drugs and other items

• Rotate items which can be used more than once

• Keep accurate records

You might also assess patients before they can come into a surgical ward. You could also review the care they have received at each stage.

If your department has trainee ODPs you might coach and mentor them. In some jobs you might also train other healthcare professionals, such as trainee paramedics.

You would normally work in an anaesthetic, surgical or recovery team. However, you could also work in areas like:

• Accident and emergency

• Intensive care

• Day surgery clinics

• Maternity units

• Resuscitation teams

Health and safety is very important in this job, particularly controlling infection. Patient confidentiality is also vital.

You can see more about the role on the operating department practitioner page on the NHS Careers website.

• NHS Education for Scotland – Training for the healthcare workforce including higher education and professional development

• Disclosure Scotland – more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme