**ENGAGE
Body and soul
There’s a lot more to working in the NHS than doctors and nurses, as Andrew Burnet discovers.
ands up: who played
doctors and nurses as a
child‘.’ Who watches lz'R. Casualty or Hal/2y City? What about the warped comedy of Green Wing and Scrubs. or the creepy cadaver-carving of Gunther von Hagens'.’ Well. the diagnosis is perfectly normal: you have a curiosity about medicine. that most humane of sciences.
What you may not have grasped. though. is the huge variety of skills demanded by the modern medical profession — or the range of employment opportunities. It‘s not all white coats and bustling hospital corridors. There are around 140 different careers within NHS Scotland today — and some of them might suit you. whatever your age and educational background. The organisation is currently recruiting people aged 18—55. and although training is often required. some of the regional health boards run training schemes.
Earlier this month. the Scottish Executive launched a campaign to alert the public to career prospects in the NHS. You may already have seen advertising across television. radio. cinema. the internet and the press. NHS Scotland will also be represented at the Hot Jobs fair in Glasgow. where medical professionals in various fields will
104 THE LIST 1 1?) Tot) 2001'
be on hand to discuss potential careers. ‘What we’re trying to do is to
show the huge range of career
opportunities across all ages and social groups.‘ says a spokesman for the campaign. ‘There are new.
different and exciting ways of
people getting work in the NHS.’ Careers include therapists. laboratory technicians. cleaners. dental hygienists. pharmacists. cooks. medical illustrators.
‘THESE PEOPLE ARE VITAL; WITHOUT THEM THE WHOLE SYSTEM WOULD COLLAPSE'
radiographers and IT support workers. ‘We also need administrative staff. accounting staff and so on. These people are vital: without them the whole system would collapse.
‘What we‘re trying to say is they‘re all part of the team. How many people does it take to help someone have a baby‘.’ It could be 50 or ()0 people. It‘s only one midwife. but the team behind that is massive.‘
But what about the health of the
There are around 140 diiferent jobs within NHS Scotland today
NHS itself'.’ Media stories tend to accentuate the negative. but there have been plenty of successes in Scottish healthcare. such as shortest-ever waiting times. treatment closer to home and more lives saved from cancer. strokes and heart disease.
An obvious appeal of working in the NHS is career satisfaction. 'People do work in care because they care.‘ says the campaign spokesman. ‘The thought that you‘ve actually helped to make someone better is a fantastic feeling.‘
li'or Alan .\V"lcl\4urray. a 32—year- old occupational therapist working in Glasgow. the .\'llS provided all of that. and a promising career ladder.
()n graduating from Glasgow University with a degree in history and politics. he began voluntary work with Sam Housing. a residential facility for people with learning disabilities.
He then took an MSc course in health and social care. which qualified him as an occupational therapist. Now he is working full- time at the city‘s Gartnavel General Hospital. McMurray says. ‘I really enjoy working with the patients and have a good working environment.‘
Are you feeling sick with envy'.’ If so. a career in the NHS might
just provide the cure.
www.infoscot|and.com/nhs NHS careers advice line: 0845 601 4647
Hot Jobs is at Kelvin Hall Arena, Glasgow, Thu 1-Sat 3 Feb. Tel: 0141 309 4960
Just a few of the NHS jobs you might not have thought of:
Dental practitioners Orthodontist. dental nurse.
dental hygienist. technician. Doctors and surgeons Audiologist. dermatologist. gynaecologist. facial surgeon. opthalmologist. radiologist. Therapists, practitioners and allied healthcare professionals
Art. drama or music therapist. counsellor, dietician. optometrist. prosthetist, speech therapist. language therapist.
Nurses and midwives
Health visitor. community
learning nurse, infection control nurse. school nurse. nurse manager. operating theatre nurse. Paramedics and
ambulance medics Ambulance care assistant. ambulance technician. paramedics. Administration
Clinical coder. clinical risk manager, data protection officer. ward clerk. Financial
Commissioning support officer. financial planning manager. Management
Contracts manager. patient liaison manager. director of communications. estates manager, quality aSSurance manager. sterile services manager.
Scientific and technical Biomedical scientist. clinical cytogeneticist. histopathologist. medical photographer. molecolar geneticist. perfusionist. phlebotomist. rehabilitation engineer.
Information and TT Application analyst. IT Trainer. knowledge and information manager.
Assistants, helpers
and social workers Community child health worker. dietic assistant. nursing auxilliaiy. clinical support worker. moving and handling co-ordinator. plaster technician. sterile services assistant.
Trades
Electrician. joiner, plumber. slater. Skilled staff
Catering manager. domestic services staff. hairdresser. handicraft instructor. window cleaner.
Support and other roles Chaplain. home warden. security staff.