NHS healthcare workers in operating theatres across Morecambe Bay were recently celebrated as part of Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) Day.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) showcased the exemplary work of ODPs at its main hospital sites at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal, Furness General Hospital in Barrow, and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
The celebration took place on May 14.
The Trust's ODPs find their job rewarding and shared why they enjoy being an ODP.
Amanda Thomas, risk and governance lead in Theatres at Furness General Hospital (FGH), said: "I love being an Operating Department Practitioner because no two days are the same.
"We work in such a fast-paced environment in which the situation could change from second to second.
"It is such an underrated career that isn’t known by many, which is why I love promoting this profession.
"An ODP is often described as a multi-tasking ninja, and this is not wrong.
"Quite often we work as autonomous practitioners, but ultimately, you’re part of one big theatre family who all share the same goal of giving safe and effective care to our patients, but also support one another when it’s needed most."
Charlotte Taylor, an ODP apprentice at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), said: "I love that I am in the theatre department all the time while doing my placements.
"I love the patient interaction, from being with the patient in the anaesthetic room as they are anaesthetised, to seeing them post-operatively waking up in recovery."
Sandra Frazer, an ODP apprentice in Theatres at Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, said: "I love dealing with patients, and as an ODP I feel you have three chances to make that impact.
"My training both at university and on my placement has been supportive, informative, pushing me to learn, and everyone that I have worked with has been instrumental in me succeeding in this course."
Danny Bakey, transformational lead for Theatres at UHMBT, said: "Our ODPs perform a crucial role in our surgical teams and are constantly going above and beyond the call of duty for our patients.
"They care for patients at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives and I witness their compassion on a daily basis.
"It is a massively rewarding profession and I’d recommend it to anyone."
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