The Operating Theatre Journal - Journal - Page 22
London Operating Department Practitioner
Advocacy Pilot Project
Tom Wicinski, Practice Development ODP at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
A successful pilot project was carried out earlier this year in London
with the aim of strengthening the identity of Operating Department
Practitioners (ODPs). A collaborative effort led by Guy’s and St
Thomas’ hospitals on behalf of NHS England brought together Chelsea
and Westminster, Kingston, Chase Farm, and Newham hospitals to
participate in this important initiative. The primary objective of
the project was to provide a permanent point of reference, namely
the ODP board, for healthcare practitioners that would enable them
to comprehend the fundamentals and essential aspects of the ODP
profession. By doing so, the project was aimed at raising awareness,
and to recognise the importance of this discipline within operating
departments and beyond, ultimately leading to increased morale and
retention among ODPs working in London.
Design and content
The information on each of the boards was structured to have a certain
degree of uniformity, although each hospital had the option to include
personalised elements in order to cater to the speci昀椀c needs of their
operating theatre departments. The layout included the following
elements: Title: “Welcome to XXX Operating Theatres; Subtitle: A
Department Commending Operating Department Practitioners”; Three
columns beneath 1: the role’s background and career progression
pathways; 2: history and information tailored to the speci昀椀c trust’s
needs; and 3: information surrounding the ODP profession, such as
National Operating Department Practitioners Day, the College of
Operating Department Practitioners, the HCPC, and the fact that ODPs
are part of the AHP family.
Considerable thought went into the layout and selection of colours
throughout the board’s design process. The colours were selected
to complement the departments’ largely neutral environment in
compliance with the NHS Identity Guidelines. To create the most
visually appealing proportion of rectangle sides, the golden ratio (1.618)
was applied to all board dimensions. The interest and response of the
audience to the design were simulated using Visual Attention Software.
Following the design and manufacturing processes, the 昀椀rst board was
launched at St Thomas’ Hospital. This has signi昀椀cant historical value for
the ODP profession because it pioneered its formal education in 1947,
thus marking the beginning of the profession.
Tom Wicinski said: “I proposed my idea to Health Education England
(now known as NHS England) in February 2023, and three months later,
we were unveiling the boards across London. When designing, I wanted
to create something practical, something that ODPs can be proud of,
and something that would remain relevant for years to come. I felt it
was important to bring attention to the roles played by ODPs because
not only are they professionals with unique skills, but they also make a
substantial contribution to the specialised care of patients both inside
and outside of operating departments, and thus they should be wellknown.”
Evaluation
In order to evaluate the results of the project, two surveys were
conducted among professionals working in the participating areas.
The surveys consisted of nine identical questions and were conducted
consecutively before the implementation of the project and after the
installation of the boards. Both surveys focused on general information
about the profession which was available on each board.
The survey elicited responses from a diverse range of professional
backgrounds, primarily comprising nurses and doctors. Additionally,
the group of respondents included individuals from various other roles
such as surgical care practitioners, apprentice and registered nursing
associates, administration staff, midwives, equipment managers,
theatre support workers, student nurses, and trainee anaesthesia
associates. The responses provided by ODPs were omitted from the
comprehensive data analysis owing to their prior knowledge of the
subject matter, which would have likely led to identical answers across
both surveys.
22
(Above) Tom Wicinski
When the two survey 昀椀ndings were compared, it became clear that
people were becoming more aware of the ODP profession, including
its quali昀椀cations and four distinct perioperative care domains. A
noteworthy increase in the ability to select the correct professional
body with which ODPs are registered was also observed. As well, a
higher number of responders were aware that ODPs are one of the
Allied Health Professions.
Impact on ODPs
Although the measurement of satisfaction among the ODPs was not
conducted, it was widely noticed across all participating areas that
there was an observable rise in their ful昀椀lment of their role and their
gratitude for being acknowledged. Moreover, the presence of a clearly
visible information source has prompted long-anticipated questions and
discussions within multiple professions.
Tom Wicinski said: “While the data may provide suggestive evidence,
there is a discernible indication that the project effectively enhanced
awareness of the ODP profession and its numerous aspects. Furthermore,
the emergence of curiosity and the initiation of crucial discussions that
would otherwise remain dormant were seen. Also, the heightened level
of ful昀椀lment among the ODPs in the participating areas was thoroughly
observed. The outcome of the evaluation showed that even a relatively
small initiative in a restricted area can deliver change for ODPs and
begin altering cultural dynamics. Therefore, it is important to build on
these foundations and seek and explore additional approaches to raise
awareness of the profession on a wider scale and at higher levels.”
The project’s full report will be accessible soon on FutureNHS;
alternatively, to obtain a copy, contact the author at:
tomasz.wicinski@nhs.net
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