Course summary

Course overview: As an operating department practitioner (ODP) you are a specialist vital part of the multidisciplinary perioperative theatre team, providing a high standard of patient-centred care during anaesthesia, surgery, and post anaesthetic care (recovery). You can expect to work within the whole of the perioperative environment across a variety of surgical specialities assisting anaesthetists and surgeons alongside the wider multidisciplinary team. Our patient-centred course equips you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to ensure that you can fully contribute to healthcare delivery in a dynamic and fast-moving surgical environment. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. You gain early exposure to practice and gain experience across a variety of specialist areas including general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ear, nose and throat, obstetric surgery, anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care. Over 50% of the course is within operating theatres and placements throughout the North East with supervised practice alongside experienced clinical staff and previous Teesside ODPs. You follow various shift patterns including nights and weekends to gain the maximum learning experience. You develop the essential skills and knowledge supported by evidence-based learning in the University with lectures, seminars and practical activities in our excellent clinical skills labs and simulated operating theatre. Your learning is underpinned and enhanced by the academic team’s decades of collective experience in theatre settings. All new and continuing eligible students on this course will receive a £5,000 learning support fund each year, which is non-repayable. Eligible students can also apply for reimbursement of essential expenses for travel and accommodation to attend practice placements. On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for registration to the Health and Care Professions Council. Please note 100% attendance is expected during this programme. Top 5 reasons to study this course 1. Our bespoke simulation suite gives you realistic training experience 2. Varied and specialised training in surgical and anaesthetic roles give you valuable learning experience 3. You gain leadership and management skills and experience 4. High employability for ODPs, with varied career opportunities, includes leadership and management roles, in theatres with specialities 5. Postgraduate opportunities to develop advanced roles and surgical care practitioner skills alongside surgeons After the course: A qualified ODP is trained in all areas of theatre work and can specialise in surgery, anaesthetics or post-anaesthetic care. New areas of practice are also opening up to the ODP such as accident and emergency, intensive care units and specialist theatres. Career opportunities exist within NHS hospital trusts and private hospitals, primary care trust clinics and the armed forces. You can progress to postgraduate study to develop to an advanced role and surgical care practitioner skills alongside surgeons. You can also develop your role through teaching, or pursue theatre management roles.