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Operating department practitioner

Operating department practitioners play a major role in each phase of a person’s operation.   

Working life 

You’ll provide high standards of skilled care and support during each phase of a patient’s perioperative [1] care - anaesthetic, surgery and recovery.

"It is hugely rewarding – you can instantly see the difference you make each day."

Read Jordan's story [2]

You’ll work in the surgery team and manage the preparation of the operating theatres. You'll also be the the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital. 

You’ll have an important role in three of the phases of perioperative [1] care:

  • anaesthetic 
  • surgery
  • recovery

Anaesthetic

You’ll:

You'll also be the the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital.

  • help and support patients before surgery
  • prepare a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs, including anaesthetic machines, intravenous equipment and devices that safely secure the patient's airway during anaesthesia

Surgery

You’ll play an important part of the surgery team by:

  • preparing all the necessary instruments and equipment for surgery, including microscopes, lasers and endoscopes
  • providing the correct surgical instruments and materials to the surgeon
  • being responsible for all surgical instruments, equipment and swabs during the operation
  • acting as a link between the surgical team and other parts of the theatre and hospital
  • anticipating the requirements of the surgical team and responding effectively

Recovery

You’ll:

  • support and monitor the patient on their arrival into the recovery unit
  • provide appropriate treatment until they have recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia and/or surgery
  • assess the patient so they can be discharged back to a ward

Entry requirements

You’ll need to study for a two year diploma or three year degree in operating department practice at university. You will usually need a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 4-9/A-C or equivalent plus A-level or equivalent qualifications. These will vary depending on the university so check with the universities you are considering applying to. Once you’ve completed your degree, you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC [3]) before you can start practising. The other option is to apply for an apprenticeship degree. 

New annual payments

You’ll receive at least £5,000 a year to help fund your studies, through the NHS Learning Support Fund. The best part? You won’t have to pay a penny back. Find out more about financial support while at university. [4]

Degree apprenticeship

A degree apprenticeship is another way to become an ODP. Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn a living while gaining your qualification. Your employer and the government will pay the tuition fees, so apprenticeships aren’t eligible for student grants.

Must-have skills

Don’t forget – academic qualifications aren’t everything. You’ll need to have strong communication skills and be as comfortable discussing treatment plans with patients as you are with your professional peers. You’ll also need to be safety-conscious and have excellent observational skills.

Training and career development

Once you’ve qualified, you’ll have annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) check-ins, where we’ll discuss your career aspirations and plan how we can help you to achieve them, so you’re always moving forward. 

There are several routes you could take to further your career including management, education and clinical research. You could also undertake further training to become a surgical care practitioner, anaesthesia associate or advanced critical care practitioner. 

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours with the need to work flexibly over a seven day period. As an ODP, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system [5], typically starting on band 5.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

  • Live vacancies
    • View Vacancy [6]

      Operating Department Practitioner

      London, W1G 6BW

      • Salary:

        £36,764 - £40,890 + Shift enhancements

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        The London Clinic

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [7]

      Operating Department Practitioner - Scrub

      Brentwood, CM15 8EH

      • Salary:

        up too £32000

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Nuffield Health

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [8]

      Operating Department Practitioner

      Chichester, PO19 6WB

      • Salary:

        34,000 DOE

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Nuffield Health

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [9]

      Operating Department Practitioner

      Southend, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 0RY

      • Salary:

        £24,907 - £30,615 per annum

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [10]

      Operating Department Practitioner

      Macclesfield District General Hospital, Victoria Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 3BL

      • Salary:

        £24,097 - £30,615 per annum

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        East Cheshire NHS Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [11]

      Theatres Operating Department Practitioner

      The Royal London Hospital, London, E1 1BB

      • Salary:

        £33,660 - £43,113 pa inc

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Barts Health NHS Trust

      • View Vacancy
  • Find your course to become an operating department practitioner
    Displaying 1 - 5 of 27 matches

    BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice Studies

    Teesside University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [12]

    Region
    North East

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    shlsadmissions@tees.ac.uk [13] 01642 384110

    Course webpage
    http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm?courseid=1855&fos=9&fossub=25 [14]

    Admissions address

    Middlesbrough
    Tees Valley
    TS1 3BA

    Course webpage
    http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm?courseid=1855&fos=9&fossub=25 [14]

    BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice

    UCLan, University of Central Lancashire

    View course Opens in a new window
    [15]

    Region
    North West

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk [16] 01772 892400

    Course webpage
    http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bsc_hons_operating_department_practice.php [15]

    Admissions address

    Preston
    Lancashire
    PR1 2HE

    Course webpage
    http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bsc_hons_operating_department_practice.php [15]

    DipHE Operating Department Practice

    Bucks New University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [17]

    Region
    London

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years

    Contact details
    advice@bucks.ac.uk [18] 01494 605060

    Course webpage
    https://bucks.ac.uk/courses/hnd/school-of-pre-qualifying-nursing-and-v-h-c/opera... [17]

    Admissions address

    Queen Alexandra Road
    High Wycombe
    Buckinghamshire
    HP11 2JZ

    Course webpage
    https://bucks.ac.uk/courses/hnd/school-of-pre-qualifying-nursing-and-v-h-c/opera... [17]

    BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice

    Anglia Ruskin University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [19]

    Region
    East of England

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    answers@aru.ac.uk [20] 01245 68 68 68

    Course webpage
    http://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/operating-department-practice [19]

    Admissions address

    Bishop Hall Lane
    Chelmsford
    Essex
    CM1 1SQ

    Course webpage
    http://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/operating-department-practice [19]

    BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice

    Staffordshire University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [21]

    Region
    West Midlands

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    enquiries@staffs.ac.uk [22] 01782 294000

    Course webpage
    http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/operating-department-practice-bsc [21]

    Admissions address

    Admissions Centre
    Blackheath Lane
    Stafford
    ST18 0AD

    Course webpage
    http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/operating-department-practice-bsc [21]

    • Load more [23]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Theatre nurse [24]
  • Theatre support worker [25]
  • General surgery [26]
  • Anaesthesia [27]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/operating-department-practitioner

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Perioperative
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/operating-department-practitioner/real-life-story-jordan-faithwaite
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#HCPC
[4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/considering-or-university/financial-support-university
[5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates?field_leading_to_a_career_in_tid=172&field_qualification_type_tid=All&field_study_mode_tid=All&field_region_tid=All&field_provider_name_tid=All&temp=All
[6] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916338106
[7] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916341659
[8] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916347031
[9] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916339015
[10] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916337587
[11] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916340527
[12] http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm?courseid=1855&fos=9&fossub=25
[13] mailto: shlsadmissions@tees.ac.uk
[14] http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm?courseid=1855&fos=9&fossub=25
[15] http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bsc_hons_operating_department_practice.php
[16] mailto: cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk
[17] https://bucks.ac.uk/courses/hnd/school-of-pre-qualifying-nursing-and-v-h-c/operating-department-practice-ft
[18] mailto: advice@bucks.ac.uk
[19] http://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/operating-department-practice
[20] mailto: answers@aru.ac.uk
[21] http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/operating-department-practice-bsc
[22] mailto: enquiries@staffs.ac.uk
[23] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/print/306?page=1
[24] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/roles-nursing/theatre-nurse
[25] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/clinical-support-staff/theatre-support-worker
[26] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/surgery/general-surgery
[27] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/anaesthesia