Kerry Johnston, Richard Taylor and Sam Martin were the first Apprentices in the Trust to start the new Apprenticeship route into the ODP profession. 3 years on, they are now the first cohort of any Apprenticeship group within the Trust to complete their programme.
The Operating Department Practitioner or ODP plays a pivotal role in modern theatre department. Whilst they attain many of skills and values in line with a nursing carer during their 3-year degree course, their clinical training takes place almost entirely in the theatre department, where they gain the addition of many specialist skills in scrub, anaesthetic and recovery care and this allows them to provide the high-quality care that patients deserve. It is also worth noting that the qualified ODP can be seen working alongside nurses in variety of other healthcare settings now, from education, research and ICU etc. This is a great career choice which provides an increasingly valued workforce within the NHS
Practice Development Nurse for Theatres, Gavin Leeming said “Both myself and my colleague Carl Mauback are really proud of the apprentices’ commitment and achievement. Despite the challenges of the last 3 years due to Covid, they have achieved their goal with a lot of hard work and are now fantastic Operating Department Practitioners. They have all secured the Band 5 jobs that they want within theatres. They are positive role models for other theatre / Trust staff as all three of them were once Health Care Assistants. This also shines a spotlight on what a fantastic career ODP is and what an exciting opportunity the apprenticeship route into the profession is.
Richard Taylor said “I first became aware of the role of the ODP through the Army and my work in theatres. I would recommend the ODP Apprenticeship to anyone looking to develop in health care in a challenging but supportive environment “.
Kerry Johnston agreed by saying that the ODP Apprenticeship is “a fantastic way to learn on the job with great support from the whole multi-disciplinary team – every day is different and there is so much to learn.” She added that the reason that she enjoys working in theatres is being able to care for and advocate for patients at their most vulnerable.
Pictured left-right: Carl Mauback, Practice Development Nurse, Apprentice ODPs Sam Martin, Richard Taylor, Kerry Johnston and Gavin Leeming, Practice Development Nurse