Allied health care in the UK encompasses the many health care professions beyond those of doctors and nurses. These include technicians and assistants to doctors in the various specialties. Qualifications for these positions vary tremendously, requiring anything from certificates to master's degrees. Education in the field must be from a recognized school or institution. Often an assessment is required to ensure the immigrant has the skills needed for successful practice of the allied health care career. Training standards must be met, and the immigrant should be prepared to prove his qualifications with documentary evidence as well as testing for entry. Experience in the field is often a prerequisite with minimum yearly levels differing from career field to career field, and from employer to employer.
There are a great number of jobs available in the NHS (National Health Service), with a higher relative percentage of opportunities in the London area. The NHS is the UK's largest employer and encompasses 90% of all health care. There are also jobs available with private concerns.
Registration with various professional organizations and boards is imperative before one can begin work in allied health care in the UK. The required registrations are different for each field, and some registrations, while not required, are important for success in the chosen field.
Jobs are generally classified on a system of bands, with each band divided further into points. Pay commences and progresses on a unified system of compensation which sets pay according to position and various other factors.
Following are examples of Allied Health Care professions in need of workers in the UK:
Radiologic technologist Radiologic technologists take internal images of patients so that doctors can diagnose and treat illnesses and conditions. Types of imaging include X-rays, sonography, MRI, Nuclear medicine, CT scans, and fluoroscopy.
Clinical lab technicians Clinical lab technicians are trained to do laboratory testing on blood, urine, and various other fluids of the body. Their work enables pathologists to diagnose illnesses, treat illnesses, and ascertain progress of the patient. Their work can occur in practices of toxicology, virology, and haematology, to name a few.
Ultrasonography Ultrasonography is based on imaging by sound frequencies. It is used to visualize internal organs and muscles. Two of the more common specialisations in ultrasonography include obstetric and cardiac ultrasound.
Dental hygienist Dental hygienists are trained specialists in dental care as auxiliaries to dentists. Their duties include cleaning, and applying sealants and fluoride to the teeth. Some hygienists may assist the dentist in orthodontic procedures or oral surgery.
Phlebotomy Phlebotomists practice venipuncture, or the drawing of blood from the inside of the elbow or scalp for evaluation. For small amounts of blood, they perform a fingerstick, and on infants, a heel stick.