Operating department practitioner

Operating department practitioners (ODPs) are allied health professionals who provide care to patients through their anaesthetics, surgery and recovery

You'll be part of the surgery team and will be responsible for the care of patients before, during and after their operation (perioperative care).

You'll ensure the operating theatre is prepared and will serve as a link between the surgical team and other teams in the hospital.

ODPs are also known as theatre practitioners.

Types of ODP

ODPs work in three areas: anaesthetics, surgery and recovery. You may cover all three areas in your work or specialise.

• Anaesthetics - You'll assist the anaesthetist by preparing the clinical area, including specialist equipment such as anaesthetic machines and intravenous devices. You'll also prepare the patient for surgery and care for them during their procedure.
• Surgery - You'll form part of the surgery team, preparing all instruments and equipment required and providing the surgeon with the required instruments and supplies.
• Recovery - This is the final stage of the patients' perioperative journey and is managed in a Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU). During this stage, you'll monitor the patient's physiological parameters and provide appropriate interventions and treatment until they have recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia and/or surgery and are stable and ready to return to the ward environment.

At every stage, ODPs act as the patient's advocate providing holistic care.

Responsibilities

As an ODP, you may need to:

• conduct pre-operative assessments of the patient prior to their admission to the department
• complete detailed diagnostic checks of the anaesthetic machines, ensuring they meet and adhere to all safety requirements, and that they are fully operational
• ensure availability of medical gases, breathing apparatus and ventilatory equipment ready for surgery
• ensure controlled and emergency medications are accessible prior to the induction of anaesthesia
• support the anaesthetist to ensure patient safety during anaesthesia
• assist the surgeon before and during the operation
• provide the surgeon with appropriate equipment for each procedure
• ensure all surgical instruments are sterilised to hospital standards
• make professional decisions to ensure the patient receives the best care before, during and after surgery
• demonstrate confidence, compassion, competence and effective judgement; taking responsibility for your decisions
• act as a patient advocate, supporting patients by communicating with appropriate healthcare providers so they get the information they need to make decisions about their health care
• adhere to legal and ethical safety checks
• (experienced ODPs) act as a preceptor to newly qualified staff.

Salary

• Jobs in the NHS are usually covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates consisting of nine pay bands. Salaries for newly qualified ODPs range from £29,970 to £36,483 (Band 5).
• Senior/experienced ODPs are usually employed at Band 6, earning between £37,338 and £44,962.
• Salaries at Band 7 range from £46,148 to £52,809. ODP roles at this level will typically be in theatre management (e.g. theatre manager or matron). ODPs may also have Band 7 positions as surgical care practitioners, anaesthesia associates, advanced clinical practitioners, lead resuscitation officers or senior simulation leads.

Those working in London and the surrounding areas may receive a high-cost area supplement of between 5% and 20% of their basic salary. 

As an NHS employee, you'll also receive a pension, health service discounts and 27 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.

Salaries in the public and private sector are usually broadly equivalent to the NHS bands.

AfC pay bands differ across the four countries of the UK. Pay negotiation happens annually at different times, so salaries will change when each country agrees their new pay award. Check your country's AfC scales for the most up-to-date NHS salary information. 

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll typically work around 37.5 hours a week but will need to be flexible over seven days. Working patterns might include evenings, nights and weekends. There may also be an on-call rota for emergencies.

Part-time and or job share and/or locum work is also possible.

What to expect

• You'll need to be confident in checking, handling and operating large pieces of machinery such as ventilatory equipment and breathing apparatus.
• The work can be challenging, particularly if you're working with trauma patients. It's not unusual to be in theatre for long periods of time, so good levels of patience and concentration are needed. It can also be rewarding as you are part of the surgical team involved in saving and improving patients' lives.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK. You'll typically work in operating theatres and specialist units such as accident and emergency (A&E) and intensive care, plus other areas where your skills are required. There may be some opportunities to work abroad in an ODP role in countries such as New Zealand and some parts of Australia, for example. There is currently a shortage of ODPs within the NHS.
• You'll work within a multidisciplinary team, comprising nurses, surgeons, radiologists, anaesthetists, other ODPs, and other medical and healthcare staff.
• During operations, ODPs might wear masks, sterile gowns and gloves, all of which will be provided for you.

Qualifications

To work as an operating department practitioner (ODP) in the UK, you need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To do this, you must complete a degree or degree apprenticeship approved by the HCPC.

To get a place on the BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice, you'll need a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 4-9/C-A or equivalent, plus A-level or equivalent qualifications. Entry requirements vary between universities, so check before applying.

Search for an HCPC-approved programme.

Students studying on an eligible course at a university in England can receive non-repayable funding support of at least £5,000 per year towards their studies. For full details, see the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Details of financial support for students studying in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are available from:

• Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
• Student Awards Services (Wales)
• Northern Ireland Direct government services.

You can also qualify by doing an ODP degree apprenticeship (England only). The apprenticeship combines paid work with study for an ODP degree, meaning you can train on the job. Your employer and the government will pay the tuition fees, so apprenticeships aren't eligible for student funding. Search for an apprenticeship on NHS Jobs.

Once you've successfully completed your degree/degree apprenticeship, you must register with the HCPC before you can start practising.

Skills

You will need to have:

• excellent communication skills to accurately relay relevant information to other members of the surgery team
• excellent interpersonal skills to reassure, empathise with and provide counselling to patients who receive bad news
• the ability to work effectively as part of a surgery team
• a proactive approach to work with the ability to anticipate care requirements
• good judgement and critical analysis skills to respond quickly and decisively to changing clinical situations
• good problem-solving skills and a logical and systematic approach to your work
• effective time management skills and the ability to organise and prioritise your own work
• attention to detail
• the ability to remain calm under pressure, particularly when exposed to a range of traumatic injuries
• good general IT knowledge and skills
• manual and hand-eye coordination skills to perform patient and equipment handling tasks
• self-confidence and the ability to reflect and learn from your own work
• a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).

Work experience

It's not possible to get work experience in an operating theatre as only those involved in the operation are able to attend the procedure.

However, it's useful to get some general healthcare experience to ensure this is the right profession for you. Experience of working as a healthcare assistant can be particularly useful as it involves supporting patients and ensuring they're comfortable during their hospital stay. With experience, you may have the opportunity to progress into a theatre support role, providing you with experience of the surgical environment.

Other ways to gain relevant experience include work placements, internships or volunteering. Many hospital trusts, for example, advertise work experience schemes on their websites. For more information on arranging healthcare work experience opportunities, see NHS Getting experience.

The NHS, private healthcare providers and organisations like St John Ambulance offer volunteering opportunities that can help you develop essential skills such as patient care, communication and teamwork. Shadowing healthcare professionals in hospital settings can also provide insight into working in healthcare.

It's also helpful to talk to someone already in the profession. LinkedIn can be a valuable tool for networking as you can search for people currently in the job and make links to find out more about the role. Attending career events, open days or NHS recruitment fairs can also help you build contacts and gain a deeper understanding of the role.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Most ODPs are employed by the NHS, working in hospital operating theatres and also departments such as:

• pre-assessment units
• anaesthetic and recovery units
• critical care units
• fertility units
• interventional radiology.

You can also work for a private healthcare provider, including independent hospitals and clinics that offer surgical and emergency care. It's also possible to work for the armed forces, providing perioperative care in field hospitals and military medical units, or in community care.

There may also be some opportunities to work for research institutions, medical training centres and healthcare equipment companies.

Look for job vacancies at:

• NHS Jobs - for England and Wales
• NHSScotland Jobs
• Northern Ireland Health and Social Care (HSC) Jobs
• private healthcare websites.

Specialist recruitment agencies such as Mayday Healthcare, Pulse and Circle Health Group advertise jobs.

Individual trusts and hospitals advertise vacancies on their websites and sometimes in printed bulletins.

Professional development

Once qualified and in your first job, you'll typically receive support from a preceptor - a more experienced ODP who will help you adapt to the working environment and develop confidence in your clinical skills. Many employers provide structured preceptorship programmes to ease the transition from student to fully independent practitioner. For more information, see Allied Health Professional (AHP) Preceptorship Standards and Framework.

To remain registered with the HCPC, you must carry out continuing professional development (CPD). This involves keeping a record of your formal and informal learning, including:

• courses attended
• work-based training
• reflective practice
• hands-on experience of delivering patient care.

The College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) offers members a range of CPD opportunities, including events, conferences and networking opportunities. It also provides support and advice to its members on professional, educational and workplace matters.

With experience, there are opportunities to undertake further postgraduate training to become a:

• surgical care practitioner - undertaking certain surgical procedures
• advanced critical care practitioner - assessment and clinical decision-making of patients
• anaesthesia associate - delivering anaesthesia under the supervision of an anaesthetist.

You could also complete a PhD if you're interested in research.

Career prospects

There are excellent career progression opportunities for ODPs, with various pathways available depending on your interests and experience. With experience, for example, you could move into a management role, such as team leader, senior ODP or theatre manager, overseeing the day-to-day running of an operating theatre unit.

Further training can allow you to expand your clinical scope of practice. By completing further training, you could move into an advanced clinical role such as surgical care practitioner, advanced critical care practitioner or anaesthesia associate.

Alternatively, you could decide to move into an academic career, teaching future ODPs and contributing to research in perioperative care. A clinical academic career is another option, allowing you to combine teaching and research at a university with hands-on clinical practice in a hospital setting.

There are also opportunities in areas such as emergency departments, critical care, simulation and resuscitation teams. Some ODPs choose to work for the armed forces or in private healthcare, broadening their experience and career prospects.