The Medical sector offers a huge range of exciting and challenging opportunities for people who are passionate about making a difference. With more than 300 different careers on offer, there is a job for you no matter what your interests, skills or qualifications
Building a Support Career in Medical
In both the NHS and Private medical sectors, good record-keeping and administration can save lives. Administrative staff have to communicate clearly with patients and Healthcare professionals to ensure a first-class service is given.
There are many opportunities within healthcare; to become a qualified professional within the Medical sector you would need to study for a recognised qualification such as AMSPAR, Pitman Medical Secretarial course or an NVQ. Alternatively you can join at a junior level with good GCSEs and or work experience and build up your qualifications and experience to lead to a more senior role within the Medical sector.
An example of support roles within the Healthcare Service:
Medical Receptionist
This would be the front line person dealing with the smooth running of the Practice/Clinic/Hospital reception area. Answering all calls, booking appointments, taking messages, sorting and dealing with the post, some administration duties will be included so a working knowledge of healthcare databases would be an advantage, however a friendly manner and willingness to learn is as important.
Medical Administrator
This may be the next level up from reception where you would be dealing with all manners of administration, including filing, scanning, updating and running reports from the database, summarising, chasing results, invoicing private clients, organising rotas. You may also be required to help on reception – for this role good communication and strong IT skills would be required, an excellent eye for detail and the ability to organise.
Medical Secretary
This role could be as support to a GP, Partners of a surgery, Private Doctors, or Consultants within either hospitals or clinics. Audio typing and a strong medical terminology knowledge are required for this role, along with flexibility and a personable approach.
Medical PA
As above but with diary management and minute taking skills. A PA for a Private Consultant may also involve booking couriers, transportation, travel, events and personal diaries.
As you can see there are a wide variety of roles are available to you, employers may require a formal qualification, however requirements do vary and there is a lot of flexibility. You might join the medical sector as a clerk and go on to become a Medical Secretary or move into one of the corporate areas, such as Human Resources.
Personal qualities such as a calm, reassuring manner, a willingness to learn and to be part of a team are always important in healthcare along with a mature attitude, commitment and motivation. If you can demonstrate your enthusiasm by having done some relevant work experience then this may help. Some employers ask for a good general level of education, particularly literacy and numeracy skills.
Nursing
For these roles you would need to be NMC registered with a current PIN number, have worked within a UK setting and be interested in roles from junior level through to clinical management.
We assist within Charities, NHS and Private Hospitals, GP Surgeries and Private Clinics with Nurses from all specialties including anaesthetics, sexual health, family planning, IVF, scrub and recovery. Within GP surgeries and Clinics Practice Nurses require all round nursing including family planning, scans, infection control, blood pressure, wound dressing and phlebotomy. IT system knowledge would also be required with an understanding of protocol, confidentiality and the ability to communicate well at every level.
