Operating Department Practice
The Department of Operating Department Practice is responsible for the provision of a number of taught programmes associated Perioperative practice. They include the Diploma Course which is currently the qualification for Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) license to practice.
The role of the (ODP) is a long established role within the multiprofessional setting that is the hospital operating department. The ODP is found in an increasingly wide variety of healthcare settings and consequently, it is difficult to establish rigid knowledge and role boundaries within the context of modern healthcare. Operating department practice has maintained its links in the provision of clinical care throughout the patient's perioperative journey within the operating department including anaesthetics, surgery, and post anaesthesia care.
The Department was the first to provide a validated post registration degree specifically designed for qualified theatre practitioners. We now offer the following Post Registration programmes validated by Cardiff University: BSc (Hons) in Intra and Perioperative Practice, Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Surgical Care Practice, MSc Managing Care in Perioperative Practice (another first for Wales).
The Department of Operating Department Practice based in the School of Healthcare Studies on the Heath Park campus of Cardiff University has been the lead nationwide in developing post registration programmes.
Our Diploma undergraduate funded student intake is currently 17 UK/EU per year however the majority of the intakes consist mainly of UK or Wales based students.
The Department is developing its research profile and a number of students have undertaken projects associated with the Perioperative environment. All staff within the department have an element of research built into their job profiles.
The Department still has links with National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), which was previously the license to practice for ODPs; it is an accredited centre for the provision of Perioperative Care Support pathways at NVQ level 2 and 3. A number of Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) are registered with the centre.