Compare roles in health

Not sure where to start with the hundreds of NHS careers? Use our compare roles section to get bite-size information on the entry requirements and training, pay and conditions, prospects and skills needed of up to three roles. If there is something that you think you could do, then get more in-depth information on the role.

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  1. Clerk

    Clerks are the engine that keeps the NHS running successfully. They make sure our patients have the information they need for their care and our healthcare professionals can access crucial patient records. 

    There are no set entry requirements to become a clerk. 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. Relevant qualifications you'll take once employed, are available from organisations such as AMSPAR and the BSMSA
    Clerks in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. Some clerks may work shifts, which could involve early starts, nights, evenings and weekends. Administrative staff in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As a new entrant you would typically start on AfC band 2 and could progress, with further training and qualifications to posts at bands 3 or 4, for example as a medical secretary. Terms and conditions will be different for administrative staff working outside of the NHS.
    You'll need good organisational, communication, IT and customer service skills.
    With experience, you could become a team leader, coordinating the work of a team of clerks. With further experience, you could become a manager, responsible for the staff in the department. Some clerks move into specialist roles such as medical secretary or PA. Others move into areas such as finance or HR.
  2. Pharmacy assistant

    Pharmacy assistants help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians order, prepare and dispense medicines.  

    There are no set entry requirements to become pharmacy assistant. Employers usually expect good literacy, numeracy and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. You will be given the training you need to be a member of the pharmacy team. This includes health and safety, use of IT systems, manufacturing medicines and dispensing prescriptions. A level 2 apprenticeship for pharmacy service assistants is available.
    Pharmacy assistants working in the NHS will work standard hours of around 37.5 a week which may include shifts. They usually start in the NHS at band 2 or 3 of the Agenda for Change pay scale. Terms and conditions outside of the NHS will vary depending on the employer.
    Excellent communication, customer service, IT and manual skills are all needed. You'll also need to be accurate and methodical, able to read and carry out instructions, be interested in people’s health and able to explain clearly to members of the public.
    You may be offered the chance to study for qualifications such as a NVQ level 2 in pharmacy service skills or BTEC level 2 in pharmaceutical science. With experience, you could become a team leader or supervisor, overseeing the work of other assistants. Some experienced pharmacy assistants apply to train as a pharmacy technician.
  3. General internal medicine

    Doctors working in general internal medicine treat patients with a wide range of acute and long-term medical conditions. 

    Training usually starts with a five year first degree in medicine. Then there's two years foundation doctor training, two years core training (CT1-2), followed by three years specialists training (ST3-5). This period of training will include your royal college exams. Length of training can vary according to your circumstances.
    Doctors may work up to 48 hours a week. The working hours may sometimes extend beyond the normal working day to include early mornings, evenings and weekends. You will also need to be on call. The basic salary ranges from £29,384 to £34,012. Once you start your specialty training as a doctor in general internal medicine employed by the NHS, you can expect to earn a salary of at least £40,257, which can increase to between £84,559 and £114,003 as a consultant.
    You'll need excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families. You'll be emotionally resilient, have excellent problem-solving and diagnostic skills and work well in teams and under pressure. You'll also be very organised for the benefit of patients.
    There are approximately 891 consultants working in general internal medicine in the NHS in England. You could specialise in acute internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology and diabetes, gastroenterology, geriatric medicine, renal medicine or respiratory medicine.
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