STUDY ODP AT UEA AND SUBJECT TASTER DATES

Study to be an ODP at University of East Anglia (UEA)

Could you make a difference as an Operating Department Practitioner?

Would you like a career that is rewarding, exciting and unpredictable? As an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) you could become a key part of an operating theatre team, working alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses and other healthcare professionals to help ensure that surgical procedures are as safe and effective as possible.

What is an ODP?

ODPs are involved in the assessment, delivery and evaluation of care relating to a surgical procedure. They work in three different clinical roles: anaesthetics, surgery and postoperative care. With a hands-on role caring for patients when they’re at their most vulnerable, no two days are the same, so it’s an interesting and hugely rewarding career choice.

What kind of person makes a good ODP?

ODPs need to have a caring and compassionate nature and a thoughtful and conscientious approach. To be an ODP, you’ll need to enjoy working as part of a team and thrive within a pressurised and rapidly changing environment. Excellent problem-solving skills are also key, as are good communication skills.

What are the job prospects like?

There is currently a national shortage of ODPs in the UK, so there are lots of opportunities for jobs and this is likely to grow. You could find work within the NHS, as well as private hospitals around the UK. You could also work as an ODP within the Armed Forces. Once you have qualified, pay and responsibility will depend upon experience and further specialist skills you may acquire. ODPs may work in a wide range of areas including transplant teams, orthopaedic clinics and special care baby units. You may go on to become a senior ODP, perhaps running a theatre unit. Critical thinking and analytical graduate skills will also enable you to seek opportunities in research, education and training and the expanding clinical opportunities available to ODPs in places like Intensive Care units.

How do I become an ODP?

You’ll need to study for a three-year degree in operating department practice at university. If you are eligible for tuition fee and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company, you can also apply for additional financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund. This is worth at least £5,000 a year and the best part is, you won’t have to pay a penny back. After graduating you will need to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council so that you can be accepted onto the national register as an Operating Department Practitioner. This entitles you to practice as a registered practitioner and is mandatory for NHS employment. BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice at UEA UEA’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is one of the best in the country for innovative teaching and research excellence in health. This exciting course offers extensive clinical experience, with a 50:50 split between theory and practice. This means you’ll experience a range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, practical workshops and operating theatre simulation sessions. Mapped to the College of Operating Department Practice curricula and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards, you’ll gain experience and knowledge of a wide range of clinical specialities.

To apply, you will need GCSEs in maths and English, and BCC at A level or equivalent.

Find out more by visiting the UEA website

https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/und ergraduate/bsc-operatingdepartment-practice

or email hsc.odp@uea.ac.uk.