BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice with Foundation Year

All staff involved in the teaching of this course are registered professionals and are experienced lecturers, either currently involved in research, or delivering research-informed teaching. You'll also learn from other expert practitioners, such as consultant anaesthetists, surgical care practitioners, surgeons, nurses, and paramedics.

You'll be taught through lectures, seminars, group discussions, and reflection, where you'll use your experiences from clinical practice. You will also develop your practical skills in the safe environment of our simulations suite.

You'll be supported during tutorials and seminars, which include focused discussions that encourage you to link theory to practice.

For each module, you'll typically have 50 hours contact and will be required to undertake self-directed study as set out by your lecturers.

Approximately 50% of your time will be spent on clinical placement, where you will be working a 37.5-hour week as per NHS working patterns. This will be mainly within an operating department where you will experience a wide range of anaesthetic, surgical, and post-anaesthetic interventions. In addition, you will develop a wider understanding of healthcare and the needs of patients through clinical placements in other settings such as the ward area, A&E, ITU, or HDU.

All practice hours must be completed before being able to progress to the next year / level of study. By the end of the course you must have completed all of your clinical practice hours in order to meet the College of Operating Department Practitioners requirement of 50% of the course in placement. Any practice hours that are missed will need to be made up at an agreed later date which may mean an extension to your course.

You will also be required to complete a declaration of suitability each year to say you are of good health and good character.

Throughout the course you will complete a range of directed study exercises and will be encouraged to appraise and manage your development by producing a personal development plan.

We encourage interactive learning for all our ODP students and self-directed study can involve peer and tutor feedback. This cohesive, interactive way of learning encourages you and your peers to share your knowledge and experiences so that you develop the interpersonal skills that you'll need throughout your career. Ultimately, you will become self-directed in your studies and take responsibility for being an independent learner.

Our lecturing team consists of highly experienced perioperative practitioners (both nurses and operating department practitioners), as well as medical staff from a variety of anaesthetic and surgical backgrounds who support the course as sessional lecturers. Every student is allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who is a member of the academic team who fulfils a key role in engaging in continuous ‘whole-person’ developmental support, as well as reflective clinical supervision with students for the full duration of the course.