Healthcare scientist
There are many opportunities in Health and Social Care for people who have a science background (particularly graduates). The healthcare sciences workforce helps to make sure that science and technology are used well in both diagnosis and treatment.
Opportunities in healthcare sciences
Healthcare sciences can be divided into the three areas outlined in the table below:
| Life sciences | Physiological Sciences | Physical Sciences and Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomical pathology | Audiology | Biomechanical engineering |
| Blood transfusion / transplantation | Autonomic neurovascular function | Clinical measurement |
| Clinical biochemistry including paediatric metabolic biochemistry | Cardiac physiology | Equipment management and clinical engineering |
| Clinical cytogenetics | Clinical perfusion | Medical electronics and instrumentation |
| Clinical embryology and andrology | Critical care technology | Medical engineering design |
| Clinical immunology | Gastrointestinal physiology | Rehabilitation engineering |
| Cytopathology including cervical cytology | Neurophysiology | Diagnostic radiology and MR physics |
| Electron microscopy | Ophthalmic science | Nuclear medicine |
| External quality assurance | Respiratory physiology | Radiopharmacy |
| Haematology and Haemostasis and Thrombosis | Sleep physiology | Radiation protection and monitoring |
| Histocompatibility& Immunogenetics | Urodynamics and urological measurements | Radiotherapy physics |
| Histopathology | Vascular technology | Renal dialysis technology |
| Molecular genetics | Vision science | Ultrasound and non-ionising radiation |
| Microbiology | Medical illustration and clinical photography | |
| Phlebotomy | Maxillofacial prosthetics and reconstruction | |
| Tissue banking | ||
| Toxicology |
Skills required
Anyone working in a healthcare sciences environment should have an interest in and an enthusiasm for understanding scientific and medical issues.
To work in this area, you should also have:
- a responsible and mature approach to work
- good practical laboratory skills
- manual dexterity (be good with your hands)
- have technical and analytical abilities
- be accurate in your work with good attention to detail
- an ability to concentrate for long periods
- an ability to reassure and put people at their ease
- good communication and organisational skills
To advance your career you will need a high level of scientific achievement, high ethical standards and the ability to lead a team.
Training programme
For those entering the health and social care sector as trainees with GCSEs, training is mostly on-the-job. Trainees then move on to specialised individual training and will have the opportunity to work towards an NVQ Level 2.
There are many degree programmes which will meet the entry requirements for a HCS career. Most commonly acceptable are degrees in life sciences disciplines or in Physics or Engineering.
To achieve the most senior healthcare sciences career grades, a primary degree would be followed by a training period during which a postgraduate qualification such as a Masters and/ or PhD would also be gained.
Some of the degree programmes run by local universities that are relevant to healthcare sciences are listed below. It is important to check with each university for details of the entry requirements and professional body recognition of each programme.
| Degree course | College / University | Course details |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Degree Applied Medical Sciences | North West Regional College Southern Regional College Belfast Metropolitan College | Two and a half year undergraduate part-time programme |
| BSc Hons Applied Biosciences | Ulster University | Undergraduate part-time distance learning two year top-up programme (for holders of qualifications below Honours level) |
| BEng Hons Bioengineering | Ulster University | Undergraduate full-time four year programme (including placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies) |
| BSc Hons Biology | Ulster University | Undergraduate full-time three year programme (or four years including placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies) |
| BSc Hons Biochemistry | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme |
| BSc Hons Biomedical Science | Ulster University | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme, or four-year programme including integrated placement for Diploma in Professional Practice or placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies |
| BSc Hons Biomedical Science | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme |
| BSc Hons Clinical Physiology | Ulster University | Undergraduate full-time four year programme (includes integrated placement for Diploma in Industrial Studies) |
| BSc Hons Engineering | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme or four-year MEng Engineering |
| BEng Hons Engineering | Ulster University | Undergraduate full-time four-year programme (including placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies) |
| BSc Hons Genetics | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme |
| BSc Hons Microbiology | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme |
| BSc Hons Molecular Biology | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme |
| BSc Hons Physics | Queen's University Belfast | Undergraduate full-time three-year programme or four-year MSci programme |
Career pathway
Those entering the healthcare science profession after leaving school can advance with training opportunities to NVQ Levels 2 and 3. Technicians and laboratory assistants may be awarded extra salary scale points for posts that require additional skills and responsibilities.
The healthcare scientist can further develop their job to the senior and principal scientist level by accepting increased responsibility and/or participation in research and development projects.
Further promotion to consultant level is possible where responsibility may include the running of a laboratory or department providing a range of services.
You may also become involved in advanced scientific work, research or training.
To find out what Health and Social Care recruitment opportunities are available visit HSCNI jobs.
Professional recognition
The Health Professions Council (HPC) is the professional regulator for any Healthcare Science profession which is regulated. Currently, two Healthcare Science professions are regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC) - Clinical Scientist and Biomedical Scientist and members of these professions must apply for registration with the HPC before they can practise in the UK.
Eligibility to apply for registration with the HPC is automatic upon successfully completing an approved programme of education and training.
As well as the professional regulator, most professionals have a leadership body. One of the roles of the leadership body is to approve training programmes which will lead to a professional qualification. Two of the best known are the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS).