Picking up mints with laparoscopic forceps and handling surgical equipment were among the activities to illustrate the role of an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).
While ODPs play a vital part in any operating and recovery room, the profession is not widely known outside of hospitals.
Staff at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has tried to raise awareness by running an open day on Monday, 25th February.
A total of 34 people, including students and people who are interested in change of career, took part in the open day which was held in the hospital’s Simulation Suite.
One of the people behind the event was Mark Girdlestone, ODP and Anesthetic Team Lead, who was delighted with the response.
He said: “We wanted to show people the wide range of roles on offer for ODPs and the open day has been really successful in helping us to do that.
“I would like to thank all of the team for their hard work in putting together the various stations and for the support across the Trust.”
Sixth form students from Springwood High School, College of West Anglia, King Edward VII Academy, Dereham Sixthform College, Thorpe St Andrew and Fakenham High School came along to the event.
A number of people who are looking for a change in career also went along to the open day.
The Simulation Suite and its interactive training mannequins were used to highlight some of an ODP’s work in anesthetics along with during and after surgery.
Other stations gave visitors the chance to have a go at picking up mints using the laparoscopic forceps to highlight the skills available and also having a go with some of the drills used within orthopedics.
The University of East Anglia were also present to highlight the education courses available.
Widening Participation Facilitator Andrea James, who also helped to organise the event, was delighted with the day.
She said: “We have already had a number of requests for work experience within theatres, which shows how successful the event was.
“It was great to have such a mixture of people, including two mums who stayed with their teenage daughters.”
If anyone else is interested in work experience within the hospital please contact andrea.james@qehkl.nhs.uk
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