Operating Department Practice
Operating department practice is the healthcare profession concerned with supporting surgical and anaesthetic teams throughout the perioperative care pathway: the period before, during, and after surgical procedures. Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) work in anaesthetic rooms, operating theatres, and recovery areas, assisting with anaesthetic induction and monitoring, scrubbing in to support surgeons during procedures, and providing post-anaesthetic care as patients emerge from surgery. It is a highly skilled, technically demanding, and clinically significant role at the heart of surgical services.
At Wrexham University this three-year full-time programme leads to registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as an Operating Department Practitioner. Students who meet the eligibility criteria and agree to work in Wales for two years after registration may be entitled to an NHS bursary that covers tuition fees and provides a non-repayable contribution to living costs, making this one of the most financially supported healthcare degrees available. You will study the theory and practice of perioperative care, developing your understanding of anaesthesia, surgical procedures, patient safety, infection control, pharmacology, and the professional and ethical standards that govern ODP practice.
Clinical placements in NHS operating departments are a central and substantial component of the programme.
Registered ODPs work in NHS hospitals and independent surgical centres in anaesthetic, scrub and recovery roles. The profession is in sustained demand as the volume of elective and emergency surgery continues to grow. Many ODPs develop specialist expertise in areas such as cardiac surgery, paediatric anaesthesia, or orthopaedics.
Postgraduate study in advanced practice, perioperative care, or healthcare leadership is an option for those wishing to develop into senior clinical or management roles. The strong clinical training the programme provides is also a recognised foundation for those who wish to progress to other healthcare roles.