Gateway to New Skills

Edge Hill is opening a new site at Gateway House, Piccadilly South, Manchester, which will train hundreds of specialist NHS operating department staff.

Edge Hill, which is currently applying for university status, is recruiting the students for its Diploma in Operating Department Practice - a course which produces skilled professionals able to offer care to patients undergoing surgery or anaesthesia. The three-year course will provide students with a Diploma of Higher Education, professional registration and valuable workplace experience.

Edge Hill is expert in developing new courses in response to skills demanded by the NHS , the Private Health Sectors, the Department for Education and Skills and numerous sectors of Commerce and Industry. Since October 2004, Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) have become professionally accountable and are registered by the Health Professions Council. This means that now, like nurses and doctors, any cases of poor practice can lead to an ODP being struck off the professional register. Therefore the level of training that is needed has dramatically increased to ensure the highest standards in healthcare are met.

The recognition of ODPs through professional accreditation as a result of this course also increases the opportunities for career progression. For example, ODPs can develop their careers to become surgical practitioners, non-medical anaesthetists, managers or educators.

Paul Wicker, Head of Operating Department Practitioner Programmes at Edge Hill, said, "This new Edge Hill site will ultimately employ at least eight senior lecturers, admin staff and a student support officer, and will be training over 150 students at any one time. As Edge Hill takes a step closer to becoming a university the new campus in Manchester is an example of how we are continuing to grow and succeed in providing career-led learning opportunities. The demand for qualified ODPs increases the need for high levels of training and expertise and the Diploma of Higher Education in ODP is a great example of our ability to respond to Health Service needs."

Operating Department Practitioners are part of the perioperative team. They work alongside medical and nursing staff to provide high standards of care during the anaesthetic, surgical and recovery phases of the patient's treatment in hospital. Practitioners need to have a broad knowledge and skill base in areas such as clinical conditions and procedures, management, communication and teamwork.

To apply to join the Edge Hill?s Diploma of Operating Practice call 0151 529 3084 or log on to http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Faculties/Health/ODP/dipodp.htm