Should ODPs Have To Undertake A Degree To Become Registered?

The HCPC, which regulates ODPs in the UK, is running a consultation on whether to raise the threshold for becoming an ODP to having undertaken a degree-level course, rather than the Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) requirement it is at present.

In 2002, when instituting regulation from the HCPC, the Association of Operating Department Practitioners (AODP) introduced the Dip HE Curriculum as the threshold qualification for new ODPs.

The now renamed College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) introduced a degree course in April 2011; the BSc (Hons) in Operating Department Practice. A revised curriculum for this course was subsequently published in September 2018.

Since 2011 there has been a transition to degree level pre-registration Operating Department Practitioner programmes across the UK. There are currently 24 Higher Education Institutions delivering degree programmes.

As a consequence, the majority of pre-registration Operating Department Practitioner programmes are now of degree level.

Is it possible for the DipHE option to survive in the long term, even if the change to a degree threshold being consulted upon does not happen immediately?

Increasing the educational threshold for ODPs is not a new idea and had been raised by the HCPC, professional bodies and the Council of Deans of Health initially in 2013, but at that time there were too few degree courses available for the change to be considered sustainable.

Now that the degree course availability is no longer an obstacle, can you see any reason why the consultation would not be approved?The CODP has argued that the threshold level of qualification for entry to the Register of Operating Department Practitioners should be changed to a Bachelor level degree for the following reasons:

• Study to degree level can give candidates an increased understanding of Human and other safety critical factors, as well as the knowledge and confidence to challenge others in the best interests of their patients.

• DipHE programmes do not cover aspects like all gender catheterisation and venepuncture which would be included in BSc programmes, and which are generally accepted as requirements for ODPs now.

• It could positively affect recruitment onto pre-registration Operating Department Practitioner programme and future-proof the profession, giving Operating Department Practitioners the opportunity to apply for specialist and advanced roles.

• Such a measure would reflect the advances the profession has made over recent years, which in the opinion of the CODP now requires graduate level knowledge and skills for safe and effective practice.

With other healthcare professions requiring degree level study, could maintaining a non-degree route to registration negatively affect perception of ODPs, both amongst other healthcare professionals and the general public?The consultation will run until 26 April 2021.

The threshold change would constitute an amendment to the Standard of Education and Training, so it would not affect individuals, only education and training programmes. This means anyone currently on the ODP Register or in an approved programme would not have to requalify.

Do you think there is any risk of registered ODPs who qualified via the DipHE route being disadvantaged in their careers going forward if the change does go through?

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