Operating Department Practice

Operating department practice is the specialist healthcare discipline concerned with the care of patients throughout surgical procedures. Operating department practitioners work alongside surgeons, anaesthetists and nursing staff across the three phases of perioperative care: the anaesthetic phase, where the patient is prepared for surgery; the intraoperative phase, when surgery is being performed; and the post-anaesthetic phase, when the patient recovers from anaesthesia. It is a high-stakes, technically demanding role that requires both clinical competence and the ability to communicate calmly and effectively under pressure.

At the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, this four-year full-time programme is designed for highly motivated students with a genuine interest in the care of surgical patients. You will develop the clinical and interpersonal skills and the specialised knowledge required to plan, deliver and evaluate perioperative care across all three phases. The degree combines academic study with clinical placements, allowing you to develop practical competence in real operating theatre environments under supervision.

You will learn about anaesthetic techniques, surgical instrumentation, patient safety, infection control and the management of perioperative complications, building both technical proficiency and the professional judgement needed to act effectively in fast-moving clinical situations.

With a typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points, this extended degree programme leads to registration as an operating department practitioner with the Health and Care Professions Council, which is required to practise in the UK. Graduates work in NHS hospitals, independent surgical centres and increasingly in specialist facilities including cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and paediatric theatres. Career progression for operating department practitioners includes roles in team leadership, clinical education, management and advanced practice.

Postgraduate study in perioperative practice, anaesthetic science or healthcare management is available for those who want to develop specialist expertise or move into research and leadership.