Operating Department Practitioner Salary

The average salary for a Operating Department Practitioner in the UK is:

£24,763

Job profile for a Operating Department Practitioner

The ODP participates in the assessment of the patient prior to surgery and provides individualised care. An ability to communicate and work effectively within a team is essential. The ODP’s role also involves many clinical skills such as the preparation of a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs. These include anaesthetic machines, ventilators, vital signs monitoring equipment, intravenous equipment and airway devices to ensure the safety of the patient during anaesthesia. *Prior to 1991 the grade was known as Operating Department Assistants (reflected in the then national award of ODA Certificate 752 accredited by City & Guilds). Since the early 90’s the profession has universally adopted the title of ODP. Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs)*, are a vital part of the multidisciplinary operating theatre team and are concerned with the maintenance and restoration of the physiological and physical status of the patient at all levels of dependency, through assessment, planning and delivery of individualised care. ODPs provide high standards of patient care and skilled support alongside medical and nursing colleagues during the anaesthetic, surgical and recovery phases of peri-operative period. The ODP’s role involves the application of theory to practice in a variety of clinical settings. The ODP is, therefore, required to have a broad knowledge and skill base, in addition to management and communication skills and will be involved with the assessment, implementation and evaluation of peri-operative care which can be divided into three interconnected phases. These phases being the anaesthetic phase, the surgical phase and the recovery phase. Patient care remains the focus throughout the surgical phase and ODPs undertake, as part of the operative team, a number of roles including the ‘scrubbed’ role, application of aseptic technique, wound management and infection control. Wearing sterile gowns and gloves, having prepared all the necessary instruments and equipment for the procedure, they work alongside the surgeon. The ODP thus provides correct surgical instruments and materials in order to ensure safe and efficient completion of surgical procedures. This often involves complex equipment, including microscopes, lasers and endoscopes. The ODP has a role in the promotion of health and safety and is therefore responsible for ensuring that surgical instruments, equipment and swabs are all accounted for throughout the surgical procedure, one of the many roles required whilst acting as the patients advocate. ODPs also undertake the “circulating” role, utilising communication and management skills, preparing the environment, equipment and acting as the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital. They must be able to anticipate the requirements of the surgical team and to respond effectively. ODPs receive, assess and deliver patient care within the recovery unit. They monitor the patient’s physiological parameters and support them, providing appropriate interventions and treatment, until the patient has recovered from the effects of anaesthesia and/or surgery and is stable. The ODP needs to assess the patient in order to ensure they can be discharged back to a surgical ward area and evaluate the care given during the peri-operative phases (anaesthetics, surgery, recovery). Operating Department Practitioners are a vital part of the clinical team and provide professional expertise during the patient’s stay in hospital. Although ODPs are primarily employed within operating theatres, they are increasingly being recognised for their skills in other critical care areas. In working together as part of the multi-disciplinary theatre team alongside medical and nursing colleagues, ODPs gather a huge amount of clinical experience and knowledge. This enables ODPs to practise in so many clinical areas as these skills and knowledge are transferable to many different health care specialities.

- Operating Department Practitioner Job Profile

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Operating Department Practitioner Salary Comparison

In 2008, the average salary for this job was £20,613.

The average salary in 2009 was £20,000, based on 1 respondents (a difference of -3% from the 2008 figure.

The average salary in 2010 was £24,634, based on 7 respondents (a difference of 23% from the 2009 figure.

The average salary in 2011 was £29,333, based on 3 respondents (a difference of 19% from the 2010 figure.

The median salary for a Operating Department Practitioner based on all salary survey responses is: £25,000

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About the Salary Survey Data in this survey is based on over 368,000 individual salary records. The date period for which job information was gathered varies, but is usually between 2008 - 2012. For precise date related information, custom reports may be ordered with greater granularity. Working 8 hours a day, 250 days of the year, the data suggests the hourly rate for Operating Department Practitioner is £12.38.


Operating Department Practitioner Salary By UK Region

These figures use non-job specific statistical weighting from our salary data pool and also include for comparison the salaries for a Operating Department Practitioner job in US Dollars based on a recent exchante rate (last rate update 02/05/2013 with a pound to dollar exchange rate 1.56) for comparisons for our international visitors
Salary US Dollars Region
£21792 $33995.52 North West
£26992 $42107.52 London
£19811 $30905.16 Yorkshire and North East
£21544 $33608.64 South West
£25506 $39789.36 South East
£21049 $32836.44 Scotland
£22287 $34767.72 Northern Ireland
£20801 $32449.56 Wales
£23030 $35926.8 Midlands
£20554 $32064.24 East of England

With regard to age and impact on salary for a Operating Department Practitioner, a statistical average weighting (that is based on how salary varies by age and not for a specific job which may vary considerably) suggests these figures: £18,573 for a worker in their 20s, £24,268 (30s), £28,726 (40s) and £28,726 (50s).
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The average salary figure above for a Operating Department Practitioner is considered highly likely to be representative of the UK market average due to the high number of respondents who had this exact job title.

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