Operating Department Practice

Approved by: This course is approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Careers and opportunities The role of an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) is to care for patients undergoing surgery in hospital, from preparing the operating theatre and anaesthetic, to ensuring the surgical team have the equipment they need during an operation and supporting patients as they recover.

ODPs are vital to the safe and effective running of an operating theatre, and many are need in both the NHS and private healthcare sector in the UK, now more than ever. As many operations were postponed due to the pandemic, there is high demand for Operating Department Practitioners to help patients get the surgery they need.

Once you complete this Operating Department Practice degree, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which you'll need to work as an ODP in the UK, in areas including anaesthesia, surgery and recovery.

With more training, you could become a surgical care practitioner able to carry out some surgical procedures, under supervision of a consultant surgeon.

What jobs can you do with an Operating Department Practice degree? As a registered Operating Department Practitioner, you'll be able to progress and develop towards roles such as:

Potential salary As an Operating Department Practitioner in the NHS in 2021, you could expect a starting salary of £25,655 moving up to £31,534 (Band 5).

With more experience as a senior ODP or team leader, you could earn from £32,306 to £39,027 (Band 6).

Clinical placements You'll need work experience in real hospital settings before you can become an Operating Department Practitioner, so on this course you'll spend more than half your time on clinical placements.

On each placement, you'll have one-to-one expert support and guidance from a personal mentor based at that hospital or NHS Trust. As a registered healthcare practitioner, your mentor will be there to advise you throughout and oversee your placement experience.

Each year of your course includes one work placement module in a clinical setting. Placement locations are liable to change, but recent students have completed placements at: