As an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) you will be an integral member of the theatre team providing peri-operative patient care. Just like a civilian fulfilling the same role you will be responsible for the smooth running of the operating theatre and its specialised equipment. You will also be expected to be multi-functional as part of the anaesthetic, scrub and recovery teams in all specialities.
As a military ODP you will be expected to undertake periods of stand-by for high readiness contingency teams that support UK military operations worldwide. You may find yourself living in austere conditions working from a tented operating theatre to being at sea on a vessel. Your additional skills will include working in A&E as part of a Trauma team and resuscitation. You can progress to become a Surgical First Assistant (SFA) and you will be trained in the operation and management of the Sterile Services Department, reprocessing instruments and other re-usable medical devices.
Unlike most people in the RAF, you will probably move jobs infrequently, remaining at either Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), located in Birmingham or RCDM Oxford, RCDM Stoke and Joint Hospital Group South West (JHG(SW))