Operating Department Practice

Operating department practitioners (ODPs) are the only undergraduate allied health professionals in the UK trained to work in operating theatres. You’ll learn to work effectively alongside anaesthetists, surgeons and others to prepare and assist during surgical and anaesthetic procedures. As an autonomous practitioner, you’ll be able to transform the experiences of care for patients.

Accredited by: College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) Health and Care Professions Council, the (HCPC) This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You must be registered with the HCPC in order to practise as an operating department practitioner in the UK.

This course is endorsed/approved by the College of Operating Department Practitioners.

How you learn This course is designed by practising ODPs registered with the HCPC. You’ll be taught by professionals who are active in their field of practice and research, having worked in many specialisms across health. This wealth of innovative professional knowledge and interprofessional practice experience provides you with an in-depth understanding of what it means to be an ODP in the real world.

You’ll experience a blended approach to learning and teaching – on campus, online and in practice placements within the critical care environment. While specialising as an ODP, you’ll also have opportunities to learn with, from and about practitioners from a range of health and social care professions. This will enable you to develop an in-depth understanding of person-centred care and patient pathways.

You learn through:

Key Themes You'll start by learning about safe perioperative practice and caring for the healthy elective patient. You'll then learn about co-morbidities in practice and how these may change the care ODPs provide to surgical patients from a holistic perspective. Finally you’ll learn how to overcome and deliver safe care in the emergency environment – being able to safely manage anything that may occur in the perioperative environment.

We’ll develop you from a novice at entry level, towards a skilled graduate who can register with the HCPC upon qualification. You’ll progress through minor procedures towards complex procedures at level 6.

From lectures and seminars to workshops and simulated learning, you’ll prepare to work alongside professionals in the clinical environment. You’ll apply theory to practice – learning by doing. Beyond the basics of operations, you’ll learn the anatomy and physiology alongside the procedure, further increasing your knowledge and understanding.

**Applied learning Work Placements** Throughout your time on the course, you’ll spend time in the clinical practice environment to develop your knowledge and skills – working alongside registered professionals caring for perioperative patients. Here you’ll gain a deep understanding and be able to practise under supervision as a Student ODP.

You’ll develop your skills and experience with placements designed to explore the four pillars of practice. Previous students have gained valuable experience in areas such as research, education or leadership, which has influenced their professional practice post-qualifying.