Operating Department Practitioner

Operating department practitioners play a major role in each phase of a person’s operation.

You’ll work in the surgery team and manage the preparation of the operating theatres. You'll also be the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital.

You’ll have an important role in three of the phases of perioperative care:

• anaesthetic

• surgery

• recovery

Entry Requirements

You’ll need to study for a two year diploma or three year degree in operating department practice at university. You will usually need a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 4-9/A-C or equivalent plus A-level or equivalent qualifications. These will vary depending on the university so check with the universities you are considering applying to. Once you’ve completed your degree, you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practicing.

Ward Sister

The Senior Sister is accountable and responsible for the delivery of patient care and management of the department, including the supervision of staff and students. The role provides effective leadership and management, and contributes to the delivery of both the trust and divisional objectives.

The Senior Sister will work in a supervisory capacity and be expected to lead and manage team performance thus enhancing the patient experience, improving patient outcomes and contributing to the organisational priorities of improved patient flow, and safe and effective deployment of the departments’ workforce. The Senior Sister will act as an exemplar role model and clinically credible practitioner delivering high standards of care and compassion at all times.

Entry Requirements

• Minimum of five GCSEs at grades 5/4 (C) or above (or equivalent level 2 qualification)

• At least two A levels (or equivalent level 3 qualification) in a subject like human biology, psychology or sociology

• Adult Nursing Degree or Nursing Degree Apprenticeship

• Registered with Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

• Evidence of Post Graduate Training

• Immediate Life Support (ILS) certificate.

Theatre Support Assistant

Theatre support assistants are the glue keeping the surgical team together. They make sure each member of the team is able to do their job effectively.

Theatre support staff also have an important role in making sure patients, who may be anxious about going into the operating theatre, feel as calm and comfortable as possible.

As a member of the theatre support staff, you'll also:

• move patients on trolleys

• reassure family members

• prepare patients for anaesthetic

• set out instruments and equipment ready for surgery

• make sure the department has stocks of items needed

• clean and tidy theatre areas after surgery

• dispose of waste

Entry Requirements

There are no set entry requirements. Employers expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. Theatre support assistants have experience of healthcare. Most have worked in the NHS in another healthcare role such as healthcare assistant or other clinical support role. You could gain experience of healthcare by securing a healthcare-related apprenticeship, and then applying for a permanent position as a healthcare assistant or other clinical support role.

Medical Secretary / Personal Assistant

NHS medical secretaries make sure that our frontline staff are able to dedicate their time to patient care while our personal assistants support our senior leaders.

As a medical secretary or personal assistant, you'll usually work for a senior member of staff or group of staff. You'll support the work of a department by taking on administrative and secretarial tasks. For example:

• Typing

• Arranging meetings and taking minutes

• Managing diaries

• Arranging travel

• Dealing with enquiries

• Taking phone calls

• Ordering stationery

• Dealing with post and emails

• Creating and updating spreadsheets and databases

Entry Requirements

Medical secretaries/personal assistants have usually worked elsewhere in the NHS so they have experience of medical terminology and NHS ways of working.

There are no set entry requirements for a medical secretary/personal assistant. However, employers expect excellent keyboard skills. They may ask for qualifications in typing or word processing. Employers also expect a good standard of literacy, numeracy and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. You may be able to enter an apprenticeship through an administrative role and through further training and qualifications, progress to more senior roles as a medical secretary or personal assistant.

Ward Hostess / Catering Assistant

Ward Hostess / Catering Assistant staff prepare and serve food for patients and staff.

Food is an important part of patient care. Patients who stay in hospital are happier with hot delicious food and get better if fed well. Food can be part of the treatment, too, for patients on special diets. So food has to be nutritious, inviting and served on time. Hospital staff need to eat as well, so many hospitals have a staff restaurant. Some also have a café where visitors can get hot drinks and snacks.

Entry Requirements

Basic Numeracy and Literacy

Knowledge of food handling and food hygiene procedures

Knowledge of routine light cleaning duties

Ability to communicate with other staff, Trust employees and service users

Ability to follow instruction, training, process and procedures

Adaptable, self-motivated and of a friendly approachable disposition

Health Records Clerk

Health records make sure that vital patient information is recorded and stored accurately so their frontline colleagues can access it at any time and at any place.

Each NHS patient has a record of all their treatment and care which has to be accurate and up to date. Health records staff (sometimes known as medical records staff) are responsible for organising, updating and storing records. This can be either a physical (paper) record or stored electronically - or a mix of both

Entry Requirements

There are no set entry requirements for health records staff. Employers usually expect good literacy, numeracy and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. For some jobs, employers may ask for other skills or qualifications such as word processing or data entry.

Employers often ask for relevant work experience. Even where this is not specified, it would be an

Ward Receptionist

Receptionists are often the first person our patients see. They use customer service and admin skills to welcome people to a hospital, health centre, clinic or NHS headquarters.

As a receptionist, you're often the first person a patient meets when they go to a hospital, clinic or health centre. You'll:

book patients in for appointments

enter patients’ details onto IT systems

direct patients where to go within the department or health centre

As well as dealing with patients face-to-face, receptionists often:

answer phones, sometimes directing calls to other staff through the switchboard or phone system

book appointments by phone

answer queries from patients and other staff

Entry Requirements

There are no set entry requirements to become a receptionist. Employers usually expect good literacy, numeracy and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. Employers often ask for relevant work experience. Even where this is not specified, it would be an advantage if you have worked in an admin or customer service role.

Sister

Entry Requirements

Minimum of five GCSEs at grades 5/4 (C) or above (or equivalent level 2 qualification)

At least two A levels (or equivalent level 3 qualification) in a subject like human biology, psychology or sociology

Adult Nursing Degree or Nursing Degree Apprenticeship

Registered with Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

Evidence of Post Graduate Training

Immediate Life Support (ILS) certificate.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists use their expert knowledge of medicines and health to provide the best care for patients.

As a pharmacist, your role is to:

make sure that medicines are used safely

work with patients to understand how to take their medicines and get the most out of them

take a history, examine, identify and provide advice to patients on minor ailments such as coughs and colds, signposting where necessary

work alongside other healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, so patients are prescribed the most appropriate medicines for them

provide advice on health and lifestyle such as stop smoking

manage long term conditions such as high blood pressure

if they're qualified to, prescribe medications to patients to help manage their condition

lead a team of pharmacy staff to provide services

Entry Requirements

To practise as a pharmacist, you need to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). To register, you need to complete a five-year programme of integrated academic and clinical based teaching.

University entry requirements are generally:

• three A-levels or equivalent in chemistry and a second science or maths. Typically offers range from AAB to BBB

• pharmacy degrees with a foundation year may have lower grade requirements

• GCSEs are considered alongside A-levels, with most schools of pharmacyexpecting a minimum of five GCSEs including maths, English language and one science

• some universities accept vocational qualifications such as BTEC Level 3, National Extended Diploma in Applied Sciences or the Access to HE Diploma

Doctor

There are 29 different pathways within medicine, covering a wide variety of options such as allergy, dermatology, infectious diseases, neurology, and sport and exercise medicine.

Most medical roles have a mixture of ward work and clinic-based medicine and in most cases a generalist attitude is required as you will be working with patients who have more than one medical problem.

They see patients of all age groups with a full spectrum of undifferentiated physical and behavioural disorders.

They treat conditions such as:

• loss of consciousness, e.g. from an injury to the head, drug poisoning, an epileptic fit

• severe bleeding

• damage to the brain or other major organs, due to trauma

• cardiac arrest (when the pumping action of the heart stops)

• breathing difficulties

• broken bones

• mental health problems, e.g. self-harm patients

Entry Requirements

Minimum of five 9-7 (A*-C) grade GCSEs (or equivalent)

3 A levels consisting of 2 Science subjects (e.g. Chemistry and Biology), plus one other subject.

Completion of a Medical Degree including 2 Year Foundation Programme

Core Training Programme and Specialist Training

Registration with the General Medical Council (GMC)

Staff Nurse

From the start of your training and into your first job, you'll learn how to observe patients and assess their needs. You’ll learn to plan and deliver the most appropriate care for them, and evaluate the results. Building a trusting relationship with each patient is essential.

Your aim is to improve your patients’ quality of life, whatever their situation. You’ll need to take lots of factors into account and juggle many priorities to get the best possible results for your patients.

Your nursing career will mean working with adults of all ages. They may suffer from one or more long or short-term physical health conditions. This could include heart disease, injuries from an accident, pneumonia, arthritis, diabetes or cancer.

You could work in a variety of settings including hospital wards, outpatient units, patients' home and clinics. You'll be part of the multidisciplinary teams with other professionals such as occupational therapists, pharmacists, radiographers and healthcare assistants. You'll also work closely with patients' families and carers.

Entry Requirements

To become an adult nurse, the main route is through a degree course at university. Entry requirements for these courses can vary depending on where and how you’d like to study, so it's important to check with universities. You can find all adult nursing course at the bottom of this page.

Typically you'll need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, possibly in English language or literature and a science subject. You'll also need two A levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications to take an undergraduate degree. Some universities may ask for three A levels or equivalent. If you already have a degree, you might be able to study for a postgraduate qualification.

There are other routes into adult nursing such as nurse degree apprenticeships and nursing associate apprenticeships.

Ward Manager

To be professionally accountable and maintain the standards of professional practice as set by the appropriate regulatory body applicable to your profession or role.

In a supervisory role utilise supervision of clinical practice, clinical audit, research, and teaching, to set, monitor and improve standards of care in addition to efficient and effective use of resources.

To be accountable for :

Ensuring safe and effective clinical practice

Enhancing the patient’s experience

Managing and developing the performance of the team

Ensuring effective contribution to the delivery of the organisation’s objectives

Deputising for Matron

Entry Requirements

• NMC Registration Nurse, NMC Registration Midwife, HCPC registration

• Degree level education[ Healthcare related]

• ENB 998/Mentorship/SLAiP [Degree level]

• Management Training

• Evidence of professional updating within last 12 months specific to sphere of practice.

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Porter

Porters are the heartbeat of NHS hospitals, making sure crucial goods and items are delivered where they are needed most. They are also make sure patients are at the right place at the right time to get the treatment they need.

As a porter, you could be moving

patients on trolleys or in wheelchairs

stores and equipment

samples of patients' blood

linens

post and parcels

waste

cylinders of gas

trolleys of food and drink

Entry Requirements

There are no set entry requirements. Employers expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy. They may ask for qualifications such as GCSEs in English and maths. Employers usually expect porters to have some relevant healthcare experience. This could be from voluntary or paid work in, for example, care work. Customer service skills are useful and some employers may ask for a driving licence.

Housekeeper

Housekeepers help make sure that hospital wards and other settings are clean, safe and attractive places for patients and staff.

As a housekeeper, you will lead ward services such as catering, cleaning, equipment and supplies. The work can include:

talking to and reassuring patients

ordering non-clinical supplies

keeping the ward clean and tidy

serving and clearing away meals

preparing snacks and drinks

reporting faults

clerical and admin tasks

ordering patient transport

receiving visitors

Entry Requirements

There are no set entry requirements. Employers expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy. They may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. Employers may also ask for relevant qualifications such as an NVQ in hotel services or health care.

Employers may ask for some experience of hotel work or healthcare which could be from paid or voluntary work.

Healthcare Assistant

Healthcare assistants make sure the patient experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. It can also be the stepping stone into many other NHS roles.

You'll work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and your job will vary depending on where you're based. For example, in a hospital you may:

wash and dress patients

serve meals and help to feed patients

help people to move around

make beds

make patients feel comfortable

monitor patients' conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight

Entry Requirements

There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ.

Employers expect you to have some experience of healthcare or care work. This could be from paid or voluntary work. There are sometimes apprenticeships in healthcare that can give you experience to apply for HCA posts.

Physiotherapist

You’ll help people improve their mobility and regain their independence after an injury or operation, or as a result of ageing or a disability.

As a physiotherapist, you’ll focus on identifying and maximising movement to improve the health and wellbeing of your patients.

Your role is vital in treating a variety of conditions such as:

neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's).

neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis).

cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack).

respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis).

Entry Requirements

two or three A levels, including a biological science and/or PE.

five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language, maths and at least one science.

Or the equivalent qualifications:

• a BTEC, HND or HNC, including biological science.

• a relevant NVQ.

• a science-based access course.

• equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications.

• a previous degree or a full practicing qualification in a related area.

Occupational Therapist

As an occupational therapist you’ll help people who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions.

In the role, you could help:

someone adapt to life after major surgery.

people with mental illnesses or learning disabilities with everyday activities such as work or volunteering.

elderly people stay in their own homes by providing adaptations such as level access showers or stair lifts.

Entry Requirements

• two or three A levels

• five GCSEs (grades 9-4/A-C), including science.

• Or equivalent qualifications:

• a BTEC, HND or HNC, including biological science

• a relevant NVQ

• a science-based access course

• equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications.

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Anaesthetist

Anaesthetists, the largest group of hospital-based specialists, give anaesthetics for surgical, medical and psychiatric procedures. They facilitate pain free child-birth, resuscitate acutely unwell patients, run chronic pain services and lead intensive care units.

Anaesthetists work in many different areas of the hospital. Anaesthetists care for patients by choosing the appropriate anaesthetics, monitoring their wellbeing during operations and painful procedures, supervising their recovery and providing further medical support if needed.

The majority of their time is spent in the operating theatre but they also work in areas such as:

• critical care services for intensive care and high dependency patients

• resuscitation services

• emergency departments

• chronic pain management

• acute pain teams

• dentistry

Entry Requirements

Prior to starting your specialty training you need to have completed a medical degree followed by the two-year foundation programme and then two or three years of core training. If you have already made a decision to pursue a career in anaesthetics, try to get experience in the specialty or related areas such as intensive care medicine.

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians are key members of the pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams who play an integral role in helping patients to get the most out of their medicines.

Typically your role will include:

• providing safe and effective pharmacy services

• supplying medicines and medical devices to patients, whether on prescription or over the counter and providing information on symptoms and products

• achieving the best outcomes through a patient’s medicines

• assembling and accuracy checking medicines for prescriptions

• providing information to patients, carers and other members of the healthcare team

• managing areas of medicines supply such as dispensaries

• supervising other pharmacy staff

• responding to patients’ and customers’ questions both face to face and over the phone

• pre-packing, assembling and labelling medicines

• referring problems or queries to the pharmacist

Entry Requirements

• To practise as a pharmacy technician, you'll need to complete an accredited course and register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

• GPhC-approved courses/qualifications are also available through a level 3 pharmacy technician apprenticeship. To apply, you'll need to be employed and working in a pharmacy to meet the required minimum number of experience hours working within the pharmacy environment, under the direct supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

• Employers, including the NHS, offer jobs for trainee pharmacy technicians.

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Surgeon

General surgeons employ a wide range of knowledge and skills to perform surgery, often in emergency situations. There is frequently an emphasis on acute abdominal problems.

General surgery encompasses a broad range of surgery which includes:

• surgical conditions of the gastrointestinal tract from the oesophagus to the anus

• breast conditions

• kidney, pancreas and liver transplantation

• trauma to the abdomen and thorax

• certain skin conditions

• initial assessment of patients with peripheral vascular disease

• general surgery of childhood

• elective surgery is also an important part of the work

Laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgery (also known as “keyhole surgery”) is now widely used within general surgery. These techniques are also popular with patients as there is less scarring, a shorter recovery time and improved outcomes. Most abdominal operations including bowel tumour removal and hernia repair can now be carried out laparoscopically.

Entry Requirements

Before you train as a surgeon you must complete a degree in medicine and have obtained a MBBS or equivalent qualification.

You then need to complete a two-year foundation programme and then two years of core training. After successfully completing your first year of foundation training you become eligible for registration as a doctor with the General Medical Council (GMC). Foundation training includes undertaking rotations in a range of specialties including surgery.

Once you have completed your foundation programme you need to complete core surgical training and ST3 specialty training in general surgery.