Operating Department Practice

Operating department practice is the healthcare profession responsible for the care of patients undergoing surgery. Operating department practitioners work as part of the theatre team across three phases of perioperative care: the anaesthetic phase, in which patients are prepared for and given anaesthesia; the surgical phase, in which scrub practitioners support the operating surgeon; and the recovery phase, in which patients are monitored and cared for as they wake from anaesthesia. It is a role that demands technical competence, calmness under pressure, and excellent management and communication skills.

At Birmingham City University, this three-year full-time BSc (Hons) programme prepares you to become a vital part of the theatre team. You will develop the clinical knowledge and practical skills needed across all three phases of perioperative care, studying anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, anaesthesia, surgical principles, and the monitoring and management of patients in the perioperative environment. Clinical placements are central to the programme, giving you direct supervised experience in operating theatres across a range of surgical specialities.

You will also develop the professional judgement, communication skills, and ethical awareness needed to work confidently and responsibly in a high-stakes clinical environment.

The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points, and the degree is studied full time. Graduates are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council as Operating Department Practitioners. Career options span NHS hospitals across surgical specialities, as well as private healthcare and independent sector theatres.

Further study options include postgraduate programmes in advanced perioperative practice, surgical first assistance, and anaesthetic practice.