Operating Department Practice
Factfile
| Typical Entry Requirements | GCSE grade C or higher in five subjects |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | GCSE English, Mathematics and a science at C or above (or equivalent) are required. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants is normally required. |
| Other Entry Requirements | Admission to this programme is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) Section 4 (2) (Exemptions) Order 1975 and DHSS Circular HC (88)9 guidelines regarding police checks and child protection. Offers are conditional upon satisfactory health and fitness for practice screening, references, successful Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance, and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) clearance. Admission is also subject to eligibility for an NHS bursary. International students should contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences to check their eligibility for the NHS bursary. Proof of eligibility is normally required prior to interview. Information is available online: www.nhsba.nhs.uk/students Candidates should have the ability to follow a shift pattern covering 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and be able to meet travel requirements. Candidates are encouraged to gain practical work experience in a care setting prior to undertaking the programme. All programmes and places are subject to commissioning numbers from the local Strategic Health Authority. All applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of study within the last five years. The Department of Health requires all ODP students to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C during induction week. Those testing positive would not be cleared for entry to the programme. |
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| Other Suitable Qualifications | A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis such as BTEC National Diploma (in a health-related subject), HNC/HND, International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish qualifications, Access Diplomas and Foundation courses (preferably science or health-related). Evidence of GCSE English, Mathematics and a science at grade C or above (or equivalent) is required. We do not include General Studies in our offers. |
| Selection Process | All applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of recent study (within the last five years) and the ability to complete the programme successfully. NHS staff, as well as University tutors, are involved in selection. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview and selection day which will include literacy and numeracy tests. Successful completion of these tests is required as a condition of entry. Applications from mature students are welcomed. |
Studying towards a Diploma in Operating Department Practice (ODP), you can expect to work with qualified NHS staff, acquiring skills essential for working as part of a multidisciplinary operating theatre team and learning to support patients throughout surgical procedures.
Our ODP programme is taught by experienced staff, who are actively engaged in research activities, and who are closely involved with NHS colleagues in practice.
Further information
Diploma
Diploma of Higher Education
| Programme | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma of Higher Education Operating Department Practice | B990 | 2 years 4 months |
Our Diploma
Operating department practitioners (ODPs) are a vital part of the multidisciplinary operating theatre team, supporting patients throughout surgical procedures. ODPs provide a high standard of patient-focused care during anaesthesia, surgery and recovery, responding to patients’ physical and psychological needs. In addition to core clinical skills and sound knowledge of specialist equipment and drugs, ODPs must have the ability to reassure and support patients emotionally through the stressful experience of surgery.
Our programme is modular, with some theory aspects shared with Nursing and Midwifery students. This exposes you to other health professionals, which is important in your preparation for multidisciplinary teamworking in the practice setting.
We value the variety of experiences that you and the other students bring to the programme and will enable you to develop skills of professional judgement, clinical and independent decision-making.
A wide range of teaching and learning techniques will be utilised in order to accommodate the variety of knowledge, key academic subjects, skills, cultural and ethical issues, and portfolio of practice experiences that you will need to acquire to fulfil the requirements for professional registration.
These are designed to develop you as an autonomous and capable practitioner able to appreciate the complexity of your professional area of study.
Programme dates and holidays
The programme starts in September and runs over two years and four months with seven weeks’ holiday, usually at Christmas, Easter and during the summer.
Programme Overview
We aim to teach you how to be a competent operating department practitioner. Your programme will consist of three main areas: Anaesthesia, Surgery and Post-anaesthetic Care.
Anaesthesia
You will learn how to facilitate optimum conditions for anaesthesia, maintain the vital functions and control the physiological responses of patients under anaesthesia in a range of specialities. You will learn to utilise skills of analysis and interpretation in the application of clinical practice, to enable safe anaesthesia and maintain the physical and psychological wellbeing of individual patients.
Surgery
You will learn a range of skills that are transferable across a spectrum of surgical specialities. You will learn to use interpretive skills, problem solving and clinical reasoning to plan, prioritise and implement the care needs of the individual patient in the intra-operative phase.
Post-anaesthetic Care
You will learn a range of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques to enable you to recognise and analyse normal and abnormal physiological parameters and to interpret and respond to the patient’s condition in the recovery phase.
Professional Training
As an ODP student at the University of Surrey, you will be placed within an NHS Trust operating department in which you will experience a wide variety of care activities. Professional training placements are available in Surrey, London, Berkshire, Middlesex and Sussex. You will be prepared in advance of your placement to ensure that you are familiar with the role that you will perform. You are allocated to a single NHS Trust for your practice placements and will therefore benefit from consistent support from registered practitioners qualified to be student mentors. As you gain in confidence and experience, you will undertake more complex procedures.
Ten reasons to study Operating Department Practice at Surrey
- We are a leading UK academic centre for the education of health professionals
- Our state-of-the-art academic building is one of the country’s best equipped educational centres
- Our purpose-designed simulation suite facilitates a range of teaching and learning techniques
- We provide high-quality teaching and research
- You will gain theoretical and practical knowledge to become a competent ODP
- Strong scientific and clinical foundations prepare you to practise with confidence
- Our programmes lead to career opportunities in a variety of health care settings
- University accommodation is normally available for all first-year students
- A mixture of continuous assessment and examinations is used for both theoretical and practical experience
Top for Jobs
Our Operating Department Practice diplomates have excellent prospects of employment after course completion.
Career Opportunities
ODPs are a vital part of the clinical team and provide professional expertise during the patient’s stay in hospital. Although ODPs are primarily employed within operating theatres, they are increasingly being recognised for their skills in other environments and there are many career paths to explore.
Opportunities exist in transplant teams, intensive care units, obstetrics units, orthopaedic clinics, pre-assessment clinics, patient transfer, day surgery units and resuscitation teams. There are also opportunities for ODPs in education and management. For more information visit:
Teaching
We know students learn most effectively when a variety of teaching methods are used. You will spend some time in formal lecture theatre settings as part of a large group, but also in smaller groups in classrooms. Student-led learning is an important component of our programmes through techniques such as enquiry-based learning (EBL) and seminars. Various elements of the programme will increasingly be using e-learning techniques. Discussion groups, presentations and demonstrations are some of the other techniques used to enhance your learning.
Up-to-date lectures and other classroom learning, as well as personal tutor groups, will support and enhance your knowledge and understanding of what happens in practice. Within the practice environment, teaching methods include shadowing, role modelling, demonstration, observation, reflection and discussion groups.
Assessment
We use a variety of methods to assess you at various points in the programme. You will be assessed on both your theoretical knowledge and practical skills. As well as written work, there are multiple choice questions, student presentations, examinations and case study work. In practice you are required to build a portfolio of your experiences which demonstrates how you have met your own learning agreement, as well as the particular learning outcomes for the module. You are also required to show an understanding of and development towards the professional behaviour expected of a registered practitioner.
Contact Details
T: 0800 980 3200 or +44 (0)1483 681681
What our students say
Graduate Profile: Karenza Hart
DipHE Operating Department Practice
I chose to come to Surrey for many reasons. The hospital that I worked at offered to sponsor me if I chose to come here. The University was relatively close to where I live, and I knew that the University of Surrey has a good reputation and is highly regarded from an employer’s perspective. The campus has a nice, friendly atmosphere and all the facilities are easily accessible. There is a vast amount of support for students and always lots to do.
I really enjoyed the practical side of this course. It is really interesting once you have learnt something academically to then put it into practice. During my time at Surrey I built on my communication skills, my IT skills improved and my understanding of revision and study techniques increased.
I now have a contract working in the hospital that sponsored me as an ODP. After these two years, I then hope to travel with my work, possibly gaining experience in other countries, such as New Zealand.
