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. Estates manager

    Estates managers make sure that our hospitals and other sites are the safest, most environmentally-friendly and best possible places to be for patients, staff and visitors.

    Although there are no set entry requirements, estate managers have a relevant qualification, often at degree level. This could be in, for example building surveying, property management or facilities management. To get onto a degree course, you need appropriate level 3 qualifications. Some estates managers join the NHS as, for example, estates technicians and become managers with experience and further qualifications. Employers may ask for a driving licence. When you become an estates manager your training will include an introduction to the department and its systems and procedures. You will be expected to keep your skills and knowledge up to date by going on short courses on particular topics such as risk analysis or contract management. You may be encouraged to take further qualifications in, for example, project management.
    Estates managers working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You will typically start on AfC band 7. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions up to band 9. Estates managers in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. The job may involve attending meetings or events in the evenings or at weekends. Terms and conditions will usually be different for estates managers working outside of the NHS.
    Estates managers need to have an interest in buildings and property, work on several different projects at once, be able to meet deadlines and work with contractors and others from the construction industry. They also need good communication, negotiating, organisational, project management and business skills.
    With experience, estates managers can progress to become senior managers such as area managers or directors. There may be opportunities outside the NHS.
  2. Tropical medicine

    Tropical medicine doctors treat patients with a range of tropical infections including malaria and hepatitis. They diagnose, investigate and manage imported infection.

    Training usually starts with a five year first degree in medicine. You’ll then complete two years of foundation training, two years of core training (CT1-2) and two years of specialty training in combined infection (ST3-4). Following that there’s three years of specialty training in Tropical Medicine (ST5-7). This period of training will include completing 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’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. The basic salary ranges from £29,384 to £34,012. Once you start your specialty training as a doctor in tropical 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 a small number of training places. Tropical medicine trainees dual train with either internal medicine or medical microbiology/medical virology. You could specialise or conduct research in areas such as paediatric tropical medicine, teach medical students or postgraduate students in training or get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector.
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