DipHE
Operating Department Practice
Develop practical skills for the operating theatre
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This course is ideal if you’re a college leaver seeking a career in healthcare, or if you are looking for a career change or want to move up from a support-level role to practitioner. With integrated theory and practice and hospital placements, it will prepare you to meet the threshold standards for practice in anaesthetics, surgery and post-operative recovery care.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Undergo simulated training tasks and gain a first-hand understanding of the theory behind clinical techniques before putting your learning into action in the operating theatre setting
- Observe, examine, assess and engage with real patients at a vulnerable part of their time in hospital
- Shadow and receive mentoring from experienced practitioners
What opportunities might it lead to?
On successful completion of this course, which is approved by both the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).
Lecturers offer helpful tips for working in practice from their extensive experience working as ODPs.
Jamie Cleland, DipHE Operating Department Practice student 2012
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- B990
- Duration
- 2 years full time
- Entry
160 points from A/AS levels to include 80 points from Science subjects (Health & Social Care, Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Applied Science, Sports Science, PE & Psychology), Advanced GNVQ in a Science or Health and Care related subject, NVQ Level 3 in a Health or Social Care context, Access to HE course. All shortlisted applicants are subject to interview. All offers are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and Occupational Health clearance. The Department of Health requires all new Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP) workers, including students, are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The consent, test and managed process of results will be carried out by our Occupational Health Department.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU full-time students: This course is NHS funded; please contact the department for further information.
This course is not open to International students.
Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work
Subject:
Health Sciences and Social Work
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- The clinical and real-life learning approach that will equip you for your chosen career
- Our simulated environments that mean you’ll gain and practise the skills you’ll need before entering the workplace
- Approachable lecturers, many of whom are teacher practitioners
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
You will begin the course by studying the fundamental aspects of safe practice in operating theatres, as well as focusing on the different stages of perioperative care.
Core units in this year include:
- Developing Professional Practice
- Health, Safety and Infection Control
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Perioperative Care
- Fundamentals of Perioperative Care
- Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
Year two
Your second year covers a more in depth look at perioperative care of specialist patient groups including children, older adults and the critically ill. You’ll also put together your own professional portfolio, gathering evidence from the whole course that demonstrates the outcomes required by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Core units in this year include:
- Perioperative Use of Drugs
- Improving Health Services
- Perioperative Care of Specialist Patient Groups
- Care of the Critically Ill Patient
- Professional Practice
Teaching and Assessment
Face-to-face learning via lectures, seminars and practical work will make up the majority of your campus-based learning. However, you will also be expected to apply the theoretical and practical components of the course to your hospital placements.
How are you assessed?
On this course there is a varied blend of assessment methods as well as a dissertation, which can be subject-specific to follow the direction of your career. Here’s how we assess you:
- tests (academic or practical/skills based)
- performance-based clinical practice assessments
- online assessment
- academic written work/portfolios
- objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs)
- presentations
- project
Tutor's view
Sally Elsbury
Health Sciences
Operating Department Practice is much more than studying for an academic award, it prepares you for a role that entails caring for patients at a vulnerable part of their time in hospital and in some critical areas of clinical practice.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Centre for Simulation in Healthcare
Practise procedures and respond to possible risks in a safe environment
Specialist Training
You will be part of the next generation of healthcare professionals
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Centre for Simulation in Healthcare
Our aim is to enhance your learning and experiences through the use of innovative learning technologies. You’ll practise profession-specific skills on medical mannequins and experience clinical situations in a safe and supportive environment. The Centre is used to simulate real-life scenarios – a great way to prepare you for the real thing during placement.
Specialist Training
You will be part of the next generation of healthcare professionals, so it’s important you get to practise your skills and gain relevant first-hand experience. You’ll be taking part in realistic clinical scenarios using state-of-the-art facilities, acting out examinations and treatments using our four beds of human patient simulators or our high-fidelity patient simulator. This is also a great way to assess your professional development.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
In James Watson West there is a simulation of a hospital ward and one of an operating theatre, both of these are great for preparing you for real practice and are used frequently in lessons.
Henry Barfoot, DipHE Operating Department Practice student 2013
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This course has an impressive record of successful graduates progressing into careers within operating theatres. It is therefore much more than studying for an academic award; you will be prepared for a role that entails caring for patients at a vulnerable part of their time in hospital and in some critical areas of practice. There is a range of roles that you’ll be qualified to enter within an operating department and this course offers great potential for progression to extended roles.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- surgical care practitioner
- team leader
- theatre manager
- sterile supply manager
- practice educator
Work experience
Approximately two-thirds of your time will be spent in practice placements, supported by clinical mentors and other registered healthcare professionals. The advice you will receive from your mentors, the interaction with patients and real-life experiences you’ll encounter is the best possible preparation for life after study.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more