Healthcare
Healthcare
About
With over 1.3 million staff the National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest employers in the world, and is the biggest in Europe (NHS Jobs).
Careers advice
General
- Prospects: Healthcare - key roles, case studies and resources
- TARGETjobs: Healthcare - overview of the sector
- Health Careers- an overview of different roles in the NHS - see also NHS Education for Scotland and Health in Wales
- Skills for Health - sector skills council for the UK health sector
- Guardian Careers:Medical & healthcare careers options: exploring roles and employers (May 2012), Healthcare career options (Jan 2012), Career options in healthcare (Jan 2011)
Medicine
- NHS Careers - includes entry requirements and skills required
- British Medical Association - professional association for doctors with advice for studying medicine
- General Medical Council – advice for medical students
- The Royal College of Surgeons: Surgical Careers – advice and information on becoming a surgeon
Dentistry
NHS: Dental team includes a breakdown of types of dentists, dentist training and your career after dental school.
Allied health professions
- NHS - Allied Health Professions – includes information on roles and entry requirements
- Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) - includes a register of approved programmes
- NHS Student Bursaries - information on bursaries for eligible students
Pharmacy
- NHS: Pharmacy careers
- Prospects: What can I do with a degree in pharmacy?
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) – information on training and courses
Optometry
- The College of Optometrists: A career in optometry - information and case studies
- General Optical Council (GOC) – information on a career in optics
- The Student Room - forum discussing optometry as a career path
Nursing and related occupations
- NHS Careers - overview of NHS nursing roles
- Guardian Careers - career options in nursing (Sept 2011), becoming a midwife (May 2011), and modern midwifery (Feb 2013)
- TARGETjobs: life as a student nurse
Industry news
- The Guardian: Healthcare Professionals Network
- New Scientist: Health
- Health news
- British Medical Association
- Nursing Times
Professional bodies
These represent people working in the sector, providing training and networking opportunities. They often provide careers support for students and graduates. They also provide development for people already working in the sector. Follow them on LinkedIn, or visit their websites for news, contacts, work experience and vacancies.
The main professional associations for this sector include:
Medicine
- British Medical Association (BMA) - professional association for doctors
- Royal College of Surgeons (RCS)
- The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- Royal College of Physicians (RCP)
Dentistry
- British Dental Association
- General Dental Council
- British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT)
- British Association of Dental Therapists
Art therapy
- Institute of Arts Therapy in Education
- British Association of Art Therapists - includes a career in art therapy
Dietetics
- The British Dietetic Association - careers for dieticians
Drama therapy
- British Association of Dramatherapists - includes training information
Music therapy
Occupational therapy
- British Association/College of Occupational Therapists - includes how to become an OT
Paramedic
- College of Paramedics - includes how to become a paramedic
Physiotherapy
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Radiography
- Society of Radiographers - includes a career in radiography
Speech therapy
- Royal College of Speech and Language - includes a career in speech and language therapy
- Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)
Chiropody and Podiatry
Pharmacy
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) - includes careers in pharmacy
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) - includes lists of accredited MPharm degrees
- National Association of Pharmacies (NPA)
- Primary Care Pharmacists' Association
- Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK)
Optometry
- The College of Optometrists - includes careers in optometry
- The General Optical Council - includes careers in optics
- Association of British Dispensing Opticians
- British Contact Lens Association
Nursing and related occupations
- Royal College of Nursing - includes how to become a nurse and a midwife.
- Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)
- The Institute of Health Promotion and Education
- The Royal College of Midwives - includes midwifery entry requirements, making applications and interview tips in want to be a midwife?
Find professional bodies outside the UK on GoinGlobal by selecting ‘Professional and Personal Networking’ on each of the individual country guides.
Making contacts
Making contacts is helpful for success in this sector. Many jobs in this field are gained through networking and speculative applications. You could start with Newcastle alumni on LinkedIn – find out what they did after graduation and contact them for advice and inspiration.
Social media, particularly LinkedIn and Twitter, is useful for making contacts, finding employers and opportunities. Find out more about how to use social media for your career and subscribe to our health professions, general healthcare, medicine & dentistry and nursing & midwifery Twitter lists.
Events
Recruitment fairs, open days, talks and events give insights and opportunities to make contacts. Regular events organised by the Careers Service include Employer & Sector Insights and Recruitment Events.
Related sectors
You may also be interested in Complementary Therapies, Counselling & Psychotherapy or Probation and Social Work.
Or see Explore Occupations for more options.
Roles & Skills
The following job profiles include descriptions of typical duties, entry requirements and case studies.
Medicine
Anaesthetist
Doctor, general practice
Doctor, hospital
Neurologist
Ophthalmologist
Pathologist
Physician associate/assistant
Psychiatrist
Surgeon
Dentistry
Dentist
Dental hygienist
Dental therapist
Facial reconstruction (from a dental background)
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) includes training information.
Allied health professions
Art therapist
- Prospects
- NHS Careers
- The Guardian - a day in the life of a children's art therapist
Dietitian
Drama therapist
Music therapist
Occupational therapist
Operating department practitioner
Orthoptist
Paramedic
Podiatrist / Chiropodist
Physiotherapist
Prosthetist and Orthotist
Radiographer
- Prospects - diagnostic radiographer
- Prospects - therapeutic radiographer
- NHS Careers– diagnostic radiographer
- NHS Careers - therapeutic radiographer
- Radiography Careers
Speech and language therapist
Pharmacy
Community / retail pharmacist
Hospital pharmacist
Primary care pharmacist
Pharmacy technician
Optometry
Optometrist
Dispensing optician
Nursing and related occupations
Adult nurse
Health play specialist
Health promotion specialist
Health visitor
Learning disability nurse
Mental health nurse
Midwife
Paediatric nurse
Management
Health service manager
See also NHS Careers for occupational information on a variety of NHS management roles.
Gaining Experience
Recent and relevant experience is essential for most healthcare roles.
Practical skills are essential, so look for opportunities to develop and practice the following abilities:
- interpersonal, communication and listening skills
- empathy and patience
- putting people at ease
- building rapport with a wide range of people
- explaining complex ideas simply
- analysing information
Hospital placements are not the only source of practical experience. Opportunities in care or community work allow you to gain experience with people of different ages and circumstances, including those who are vulnerable, anxious or in distress.
Finding work experience
Paid opportunities
- Search for vacancies on MyCareer - often advertises paid, part-time personal carer, care assistant and support worker vacancies
- NHS Jobs - search for part-time healthcare assistant or related jobs
- Universal Jobmatch - regularly advertises part-time care assistant and similar roles
- Community Care Jobs
- jobsgopublic - includes part-time vacancies in social care
Voluntary experience
- NHS Trusts offer voluntary experience - see volunteering at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Go Volunteer (NUSU) - offer NHS and healthcare placements
- Do-it - volunteering opportunities
- Hospice UK - search for local hospices and visit their website to see if they recruit volunteers
- St John Ambulance and British Red Cross - first aid volunteering
- NUSU Nightline recruits volunteers for its counselling helpline - see the NHS directory for specialist helplines
See Volunteering for more information.
Newcastle hospital insight day
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are offer students interested in attending Medical School or completing Physician Associate studies the opportunity to take part in an insight day.
This will help you gain an understanding of what it is like to work as a Consultant or Physician Associate in a live hospital environment and hear from practitioners currently working in the role.
Applications will be accepted from Newcastle University undergraduate and postgraduate students on any degree discipline however, as there are a small number of places available only penultimate and final year students are eligible to apply.
Applications are currently closed.
Finding companies
Work shadowing with relevant practitioners can demonstrate your knowledge of the role and organisation when applying.
Find organisations that interest you and get in touch always with a named contact. Be specific about why you are writing to them and what you’re looking for. Show your enthusiasm for the sector and highlight any relevant skills. Don’t give up if you don’t get a reply – follow up with a phone call or email to show that you’re keen.
Find contacts through professional associations, institutes and trusts, as listed in About. See NHS authorities and trusts for details of specific trusts.
Finding Jobs
There are a wide variety of places to find vacancies within the healthcare sector.
Healthcare (general)
- Search for vacancies on MyCareer
- NHS Jobs, NHS Scotland Recruitment, NHS Authorities and Trusts and NHS Professionals
- BUPA Jobs
- Healthjobs UK
- Prison Service - healthcare vacancies in the prison service
- British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy - medical careers in the armed forces
- The Health Job
- SocialCare.co.uk - healthcare and social care related jobs board
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) - three-way partnerships involving a business, a graduate and an academic institution. Graduates work on research projects while gaining industrial experience with an employer. Projects are competitively paid, with funding for personal development, and typically last 1-3 years. View current opportunities.
Find jobs and additional vacancy source websites outside the UK on GoinGlobal.
Healthcare recruitment agencies
Vacancy sources for specific roles:
Medicine
- The Foundation Programme - two-year training programme between medical school and specialist/general practice training
- BMJ Careers
- SpecialistInfo - GP and consultants directory with free registration required for full access
- Royal College of Physicians
Dentistry
Allied health professions
Art therapy
Dietetics
- BDA - jobs and careers
- EM Recruitment - recruitment site for dieticians
- NHD jobs
Drama therapy
Music therapy
- BAMT: find a therapist - use this list to see where current music therapists are working
- Live Music Now - opportunity to gain experience before qualifying
- Music in Hospitals - opportunity to gain experience before qualifying
Occupational therapy
- Local Government Jobs
- Community Care
- British Association/College of Occupational Therapists: jobs - advertises vacancies to paid members
Orthoptics
- International Orthoptic Association (IOA) (membership needed for full access)
Paramedic
- NHS: Ambulance Services - visit individual websites for job opportunities
- Scottish Ambulance Service
- Ambulance Life Jobs
Podiatry
Physiotherapist
- Job escalator
- PhysioBob's Jobs and Courses
- justphysio - recruitment agency
Prosthetics and orthotics
The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO)
Radiography
- SoR - Society for Radiographers website
- Health Service Journal
- Maxxima - healthcare recruitment agency
- Jennie Reeves Radiographers Agency
Speech and language therapy
Pharmacy
- PJ Careers
- C+D Jobs
- Sterling Cross - recruitment agency
Optometry
Study
Most professions in the healthcare sector require specific accredited university qualifications.
Professions
Medicine
For information on routes into medicine see Applying for Medical School.
Allied healthcare professions
To practise as an allied healthcare professional you will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To register with the HCPC you first need to complete an approved degree, see the individual occupational profiles in roles and skills for information on specific professions.
Find a course by using the NHS course finder.
Pharmacy
To practise as a pharmacist, you need to complete a master's degree in pharmacy (MPharm). This must be a course approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). On completion of your degree, you must first complete a pre-registration training year in a GPhC-approved community or hospital pharmacy and pass a registration exam.
Find a degree by using the NHS course finder or see the GPhC website for details of approved MPharm courses.
Optometry
To practise as an optometrist you need to complete a General Optical Council (GOC) approved degree in optometry. On completion of your degree, you must then complete 12 to 15 months' pre-registration training with a GOC-approved optometrist and pass a GOC assessment.
See the GOC website for details of approved courses.
Nursing
To qualify as a nurse, you need to complete a degree approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
Find a course by using the NHS or NMC course finder.
Funding
Funding for some healthcare courses is provided by NHS bursaries. The amount of money awarded will depend on your personal eligibility and student status, you can find this out by using a bursary calculator.
Find out about the changes to financial support for approved healthcare courses taking place in August 2017.
See Further Study for more information on funding and applying for courses, or speak to one of our information advisers.
Work for Yourself
Many professionals in the healthcare industry start their own businesses.
START UP provides information on the range of activities and support available to eligible Newcastle students and graduates interested in starting their own business or working for themselves.
COBRA has factsheets and reports on starting up and running a business. COBRA can only be accessed through a University computer on the Newcastle campus.