Today, on National ODP Day, we are proud to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) across the UK and here at Ramsay Health Care UK’s hospitals.
ODPs play a vital role in patient care throughout the surgical journey, working alongside surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre teams to ensure patients receive safe, compassionate and high-quality care before, during and after operations. Their expertise, teamwork and dedication make a huge difference to both patients and colleagues every single day.
To celebrate National ODP Day, we spoke to Gareth, ODP at Duchy Hospital about his career journey and what he loves most about working at Ramsay.
Having recently celebrated 10 years of service at Duchy Hospital, Gareth began his career as a Healthcare Assistant before progressing through an ODP apprenticeship. Since then, he has continued to develop professionally, completing Surgical First Assistant training, Advanced Life Support training and more recently becoming a Manual Handling Train the Trainer.
Gareth shared that it is the culture has kept him working at Duchy for many years:
“My colleagues are a big part of what makes working here at Duchy Hospital so great. In the theatre department, and even the wider hospital, there is a real family-style environment. We all support and help each other and we all love helping people on their journey to better health.”
Gareth highlighted the importance of positivity and teamwork within the department:
“Good conversations with my colleagues genuinely brighten my day – I think if you love what you do and your colleagues feel the same it creates a really positive working environment. Having a quick laugh during a busy day can make all the difference!”
When Gareth was asked about whether they would recommend working at Duchy Hospital, he said:
“Yes, I absolutely would. I’m really grateful for the support and opportunities I’ve had here at Duchy Hospital; I really appreciate that my manager and the Senior Leadership Team have invested in me in that way.”
Jo Dickson, Chief Clinical and Quality Officer at Ramsay Health Care UK, said:
“What makes me proud to lead clinical teams at Ramsay is the standard they set: combining technical excellence with personalised connections, supporting one another through busy and complex days, and keeping patients at the centre of every decision. That is exactly what “People caring for people” looks like in real life."
At Ramsay Health Care we are incredibly proud of our theatre teams and their importance within the patient journey.