Jane Harrison-Williams MSc, BSc (Hons), LIBMS

Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Career in Healthcare Science

What is Healthcare Science?

What do Healthcare Scientists do?

What is Healthcare Science?

• Putting science to work for people's health

What do Healthcare Scientists do?

• They play a vital role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a huge number of medical conditions, as well as in rehabilitation

Who are we?

Who are we?

Hospital Pharmacist

Community Pharmacist

Pharmacy Technician

Cervical Cytoscreener

Clinical Cytogeneticist

Clinical Embryologist

Biomedical Scientist

Anatomical Pathology Technician

Medical Laboratory Assistant

Phlebotomist

Molecular Geneticist

Clinical Biochemist

HaematologistScientist in Haemostasis and Thrombosis

Audiological Scientist

Audiologist

Cardiographer

Cardiac Physiologists

Cardiac Clinical Scientific Officer

Gastroenterology Technician

Hearing Therapist

Neurophysiology TechnicianOperating Department Practitioner

PerfusionistRespiratory Physiology Technician

Clinical Engineer

Medical Physicist

Clinical/Medical Technologist

Medical Illustrator

Areas of Healthcare Science

• Physiological Sciences – examines patients directly to look for any problems in how the body works

• Clinical engineering and physical sciences – work with clinical teams, making sure equipment is safe and effective

• Life Sciences – play a crucial role in helping to improve understanding of illnesses and their treatment

Physiological Sciences

• Part of a medical or surgical team.• Direct interaction with patients• Identify abnormalities• Provide long term care for patients

Audiological Scientist, Audiologist, Cardiographer, Cardiac Physiologists and Cardiac Clinical Scientific Officers, Gastroenterology Technician, Hearing Therapist, Neurophysiology Technician, Operating Department Practitioner, Perfusionist, Respiratory Physiology Technician

Clinical engineering and physical sciences

• Develop new techniques and technology• Including ultrasound, radiation and clinical

photography• Artificial techniques and design• Including limbs, body parts and facial

reconstructionClinical Engineer, Medical Physicist, Clinical/Medical Technologist, Medical Illustrator

Life Sciences

• Spend most of time in laboratories, or hospital wards or in the community

• Three areas– Pathology – clinical pathology laboratory– Genetics – specialist hospitals– Embryology – help people to conceive

Anatomical Pathology Technician, Clinical Embryologist, Cervical Cytoscreener, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Phlebotomist, Biomedical Scientist, Clinical Cytogeneticist, Molecular Geneticist, Clinical Biochemist, Haematologist, Scientist in Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Clinical Microbiologist, Clinical Scientist in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, Clinical Immunologist

Biomedical Science

• Clinical Biochemistry• Haematology• Transfusion• Microbiology• Immunology• Histopathology• Cytopathology

Biomedical Science

• Diseases– Clinical Biochemistry– Haematology– Microbiology– Immunology– Histopathology– Cytopathology

Grades

• MLA (Support worker or assistant technician) [2,3]

• Senior MLA (Assistant practitioner) [3,4]• Trainee BMS (Trainee Practitioner) [4]• BMS 1 (Practitioner) [5]• Specialist BMS (Scientist Practitioner) [6]• BMS 2 (Senior Practitioner) [7]• BMS 3 / 4 [8a]• Clinical Scientist (Advanced Practitioner) [7, 8a]• Consultant (Consultant Practitioner) [8b,c, 9]

What should I know?Where are you now?

What can I do? Who can help me?

Studying for GCSEs

• Explore routes into a chosen career

• Are there any particular skills or experience needed that can improve my chances

• Enquire about work experience or volunteering

• Do I need A levels or equivalent

• Consider 14-19 Diploma

• Subject Teachers• Careers advisors• Professional

bodies• NHS careers

Where are you now?

What can I do? Who can help me?

Studying for A Levels

• Consider an apprenticeship

• Do I need a degree• Investigate further

qualifications• Am I eligible for a

bursary• Seek advice from your

local Trust for current vacancies

• Enquire about work experience or volunteering

• Subject Teachers• Careers advisors• Professional

bodies• NHS careers• UCAS• NHS students

grants unit

University • Enquire about work experience or volunteering

• Do I need a degree• Investigate further

qualifications

• Careers advisors• Professional

bodies• NHS careers• NHS jobs

Useful Websites

• www.nhscareers.nhs.uk• www.nwhcs.nhs.uk• www.ibms.org• http://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx• www.ljmu.ac.uk• www.edgehill.ac.uk• www.open.ac.uk