# Operating Department Practitioner Jobs in the NHS > NHS operating department practitioner job landing page from Job Clerk. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/jobs/operating-department-practitioner - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/jobs/operating-department-practitioner.md ## Live Market Snapshot - **Live vacancies:** 38 - **NHS employers:** 21 - **New vacancies this week:** 22 - **Observed salary range:** GBP 31,049 to GBP 61,466 ## Role Summary Operating department practitioners (ODPs) work across the three phases of perioperative care: anaesthetics, surgery, and recovery. They are one of the smaller allied health professions, but demand is consistent because every operating theatre list requires ODP or anaesthetic nurse cover. Posts start at Band 5, with advanced practitioner and team lead roles at Band 6-7. ODPs are HCPC-registered and work in acute hospital theatres, day surgery units, emergency departments, and intensive care. ## Typical Responsibilities - Preparing the anaesthetic room: checking equipment, drawing up drugs, and assisting induction - Scrub practitioner role: instrument management, swab counts, and surgical assistance - Recovery: monitoring patients from anaesthetic reversal through to ward discharge criteria - Emergency theatre response including major trauma and obstetric emergencies - Equipment checks, stock management, and WHO surgical safety checklist compliance - Mentoring student ODPs and supporting newly qualified practitioners - Advanced roles: anaesthetic practitioner, surgical first assistant, or critical care ODP ## Typical Requirements - BSc or DipHE in Operating Department Practice and active HCPC registration - Post-qualification experience in all three phases of perioperative care - Life support certification (ILS or ALS depending on role) - Specialist skills for advanced roles (e.g. airway management, regional anaesthesia assistance) ## Employers Hiring - Nuffield Health (7 jobs) - Ramsay Health Care UK Operations Limited (4 jobs) - Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (3 jobs) - NHS Grampian (3 jobs) - South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (3 jobs) - Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2 jobs) - Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (2 jobs) - East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (1 jobs) ## Locations Hiring - Milton Keynes, East of England (3 jobs) - Bingley, North West (2 jobs) - Middlesbrough, North East and Yorkshire (2 jobs) - Stockton-on-Tees, South East (2 jobs) - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, North of Scotland (2 jobs) - Dorchester, South West (2 jobs) - London, London (2 jobs) - Victoria Hospital, East of Scotland (1 jobs) - Colchester, East of England (1 jobs) - Chelsea, London (1 jobs) - Manchester, North West (1 jobs) - Middlesbrough, North West (1 jobs) ## FAQs ### What qualifications do I need to become an NHS ODP? You need an HCPC-approved qualification in Operating Department Practice, such as a BSc, DipHE, or approved degree apprenticeship, followed by HCPC registration. Programmes include substantial clinical placements in anaesthetics, surgery, and recovery. Career changers with relevant healthcare experience can apply through standard university routes or look for apprentice ODP posts advertised by trusts and education providers. ### How much do NHS ODPs earn? Under the 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay scales, Band 5 ODPs earn approximately £32,000 to £39,000, Band 6 senior or specialist ODPs earn £40,000 to £48,000, and Band 7 team leads or advanced practitioners earn £49,000 to £57,000. Theatre rotas often include weekends, evenings, and on-call shifts, which attract unsocial hours pay enhancements on top of the basic salary. ### What is the difference between an ODP and a theatre nurse? ODPs and theatre nurses (scrub nurses, anaesthetic nurses) do overlapping clinical work in operating theatres. The key difference is training and registration: ODPs train specifically for perioperative practice and register with the HCPC, while theatre nurses hold a nursing degree and NMC registration. In practice, both work as scrub practitioners and in anaesthetics. Some trusts prefer ODPs for anaesthetic room work because their training focuses heavily on this phase. ### What does on-call work look like for ODPs? Most acute trusts run an emergency theatre on-call rota covering evenings, nights, and weekends. On-call ODPs respond to emergency cases including trauma, obstetric emergencies, and urgent surgical cases. You are typically at home on call and come in when contacted, though some trusts use resident on-call. On-call frequency varies by trust size and team, but one in four to one in eight is common. On-call hours are paid at enhanced rates. ### What career progression is available for ODPs? Band 5 ODPs can progress to Band 6 senior practitioner or specialist roles (cardiac, neuro, paediatric theatres). Band 7 roles include theatre team leader, advanced practitioner (e.g. anaesthetic practitioner or surgical first assistant), or education lead. Some ODPs also move into intensive care, emergency departments, or pain management teams. Advanced practice roles may involve independent clinical decision-making under consultant supervision. ### Can ODPs work outside operating theatres? Yes. ODPs increasingly work in emergency departments (airway management and procedural sedation), intensive care units, endoscopy suites, cardiac catheterisation labs, and radiology (interventional procedures under sedation). The core skill set of airway management, monitoring, and drug administration transfers well to these settings. Some trusts also employ ODPs in pre-assessment clinics and pain services. ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk SEO landing-page data as the HTML page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Live job counts change as source NHS adverts open and close.