Operating Department Practice

Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are registered healthcare professionals specialising in caring for people before, during and after surgery. This degree will give you the skills needed to deliver essential services in the operating theatre and give high standards of perioperative care to patients.

As an ODP, you will play an important part of the theatre team and work alongside other professionals such as surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists. ODPs take a lead role in ensuring patient safety at each stage of care through the operating theatre: anaesthetic, surgery and post-anaesthetic care. ODPs work in a highly technical area managing specialist equipment and materials, as well as demonstrating evidence-based, patient-centred care.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award:

BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice.

Work placements To give you hands-on experience of working with patients, combined with plenty of opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge in the operating theatre environment, you’ll spend approximately 50% of your time in clinical practice during the course of your studies. Your placements will take place at a variety of NHS hospitals across Staffordshire, Shropshire and surrounding areas. You will work in a range of surgical areas, including general and abdominal surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics, and ear, nose and throat.