What are ODPs? The team once dubbed the 'SAS of the NHS'

Behind every operating theatre department door are a skilled group: Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs).

From preparing the operating room to assisting anaesthetists in intubation, airway maintenance and ensuring the patient’s wellbeing, ODPs are critically important members of the surgical team.  

To find out more about what it's like to work as an ODP, we caught up with Teresa Honour and Anna Lai-Tan to talk about their experiences, perceptions of the role, daily routines and why ODPs earned the nickname 'the SAS of the NHS' during Covid.

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