Careers in Health Science
When we think of the field of health care, most of us tend to think in terms of nurses and doctors in the first instance. Although their contribution is invaluable it’s easy to forget the work of scientists in the field, those who work diligently in the background analysing different medical conditions, making new discoveries and seeing how the boundaries can be further extended, work that will be of benefit to patients in the long run.
This science at the heart of the care and treatment may not be immediately obvious to us. But just think of those vaccinations that each of us have had since we were children or the process of X-raying a suspected broken limb for example. The work of scientists lies at the heart of both processes - the process of developing the vaccines and the analysing of the X-ray film.
Scientists and technicians are a crucial part of the healthcare team. Take an outbreak of a major disease such as Legionnaire’s Disease for instance. In that type of situation, there will always be teams of scientists working together to establish how and why the disease appeared in that particular area. Others will work on ensuring that it doesn’t spread; others will help to care for patients who may have already contracted the disease and more will work to try and ensure that such an outbreak doesn’t happen elsewhere.
Healthcare scientists carry out blood tests or tissue analysis to establish other diseases or confirm symptoms. For example they might analyse tissue compatibility as part of a transplant team giving a new chance of a healthy life to someone. They are key members of any NHS team.
There is a wide range of scientific careers within the NHS, including training for those just starting out or a career development for those already in a scientific profession or with existing scientific qualifications.
You can join the NHS as a healthcare scientist in certain fields if you already have a science degree. Entry is usually into a training grade, after which you can research vacancies within the main professional grade.
If you have A levels, you can enter a specific degree course for pharmacists and diagnostic or therapeutic radiography, or the NHS will support you towards a degree or technical qualification in another healthcare science through a combination of trainee posts and part-time study.
Those with GCSE’s or equivalent, or relevant work experience, can begin training in a healthcare science discipline that will often lead to a formal qualification. From there on they will be encouraged to extend and update their skills, including going on to take a degree, with the support of the NHS.
What are the choices?
Science Graduates: You can become a healthcare scientist if you are a science graduate with the relevant degree for your chosen field. These are some of the career options that would be available: Audiological Scientist and Hearing Therapist; Biomedical Scientist; Clinical Engineer; Medical Physicist.
A level: Once you have attained your A levels, you can study to become a pharmacist through specific degree courses - this is a field which is constantly developing as medicines become more and more complex.
Radiography is another option, either diagnostic - detecting blood clots in the body or studying the developments of infants in the womb using ‘high tech’ methods for example - or therapeutic - targeting the correct dose of radiation at the site of disease for example.
There are other options for those with A levels, including the facility for the NHS to support you to degree level with a work/study programme within the relevant department combined with part-time course work. Amongst your career options could be : Rehabilitation Engineer, Renal Technician or Technical Audiologist.
GCSE: With GCSE’s or other similar qualification or work experience, you can work within the NHS towards becoming a healthcare science technician. Amongst the career options are: Medical Technologist, Pharmacy Technician or Clinical Laboratory Support. You would start with on-the-job training and day release or short courses. In many cases this training can lead to a formal qualification and could lead to a degree if you so wish.
Further details about careers in the NHS can be found at www.nhscareers.nhs.uk |