Operating Department Practitioner

As an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), you will play a vital role in helping patients through surgery and other medical procedures. You'll work as part of the operating theatre team, supporting patients before, during and after their treatment, preparing specialist equipment, assisting with anaesthesia, and helping to ensure safe, high-quality care. If you enjoy science, teamwork and staying calm under pressure, this role offers the chance to make a real difference when patients need support the most.

As an ODP you would primarily work in an operating theatre, alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses, healthcare assistants, theatre support staff and porters.

Operating Department Practitioner is also known as ODP.

Role Characteristics

Help and support people before surgery
Prepare all the necessary instruments and equipment for surgery
Provide the correct surgical instruments and materials to the surgeon
Be responsible for all surgical instruments, equipment and swabs during the operation
Support and monitor the people on their arrival into the recovery unit
Provide appropriate treatment until they have recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia and/or surgery

Skills

Collaboration
Communication
Decision-making
Problem-solving
Team work

Day in the life

Watch Rowell explain about his work as an Operating Department Practitioner.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

Undergraduate degree

Degree apprenticeship

BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels

How to become

To become an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), you will need a degree in Operating Department Practice. There are many ways to access university level education and you can explore lots of current opportunities in the section below.

You might:

Study A Levels, BTECs, or T Levels – useful subjects might include Health and Social Care, Biology, Human Biology, Psychology, Applied Science or Physical Education. Explore some current opportunities below.
Complete an Access to Higher Education course – a college course designed for adults who want to access higher education but don’t have the traditional requirements like A Levels.
Complete a Foundation course – a year-long university course designed to prepare you for studying Operating Department Practice or a related healthcare profession if you do not have the required qualifications or grades to go straight into a degree.

You will then be ready to study at a university level. This can include:

Studying an undergraduate degree in Operating Department Practice.
Complete a Degree Apprenticeship – gain experience in the workplace while also studying a qualification in Operating Department Practice.

Alongside education, you may also want to build some relevant work or voluntary experience in healthcare, hospitals, care services, patient support roles or community health settings and think about developing your communication, teamwork, organisation, problem-solving and ability to remain calm under pressure skills.

To work in this role, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Where can this role lead

From your role as an Operating Department Practitioner, you could continue supporting patients through surgical procedures by specialising in areas such as Anaesthetics.

Your communication, teamwork, decision-making and patient-centred care skills as an Operating Department Practitioner would also translate well to sideways moves such as a Medical Engineering Technician, or Clinical Coder.

Progression might look like seeking a leadership role within theatre services, applying your skills to become a Service Manager.

If you enjoy working closely with patients, you could also explore roles such as Nurse, Midwife, or Paramedic.

Location

Hospitals

Working hours

Full Time
Nights
Part Time
Weekdays
Weekends
Overtime
Flexible Hours

Opportunities

BTECs, T-levels or A-levels

Leeds City College Health and Social Care courses

Find BTEC, T-Level or A-Level courses in Health and Care at Leeds City College

Organisation: Leeds City College

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Access to university

BSc Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship)

This course has been designed to provide the opportunity to study Operating Department Practice BSc(Hons) whilst being employed in the perioperative environment.

Organisation: University of Huddersfield

View opportunity

Work Experience

Virtual work experience

Aspiring Allies offers virtual work experience as well as housing information about the allied health professions, routes into these professions, a quick and easy quiz to support individuals to 'Find their AHP' and inspirational stories from staff working as and students studying to be an allied health professional.

Organisation: Aspiring Allies

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Volunteering

Volunteering in Health and Care

Find out more about volunteering opportunities in Health and Care

Organisation: Volunteering Opportunities

View opportunity