Operating department practitioners and midwives: The undervalued obstetric care collaboration

Abstract

More than one-quarter of births in the UK are reported to be by caesarean section, requiring the skills and expertise of operating department practitioners (ODPs) and midwives, an often-overlooked care collaboration. This reflective case study looks back at an experience that the author, a registered ODP, had as a third-year student. It provides an example of how a lack of understanding of roles and poor interprofessional communication between the midwife and postoperative practitioner detrimentally affected a woman's care. The aim is to demonstrate areas for improvement and make recommendations highlighting the need for inclusive education and learning in perioperative obstetric care.