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. Public health knowledge and intelligence professional

    Public health knowledge and intelligence professionals help to provide information that's essential both for identifying issues that have a negative effect on people’s health, and for planning to deal with those issues.

    There is no standard national entry route into public health knowledge and intelligence roles, although there are various schemes and training programmes, mostly at regional level within the NHS and with Public Health England. Apprenticeships are available in health informatics, intelligence analysis and libraries, archives, records and information management services.
    Your working hours are likely to vary depending on the employer and nature of the work. For example, working hours may generally be from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday but there may be variations to this which are determined by the individual employer or by events, conferences etc.
    As a knowledge and intelligence professional you'll need a range of skills which include an interest in data and attention to detail, for example, in collecting, analysing and interpreting data and being able to present information in easy to understand ways. You should also have well developed IT skills, be a good communicator and enjoy working both on your own initiative as well as part of a team.
    You might start out as an assistant librarian, and progress to librarian, head librarian or into a managerial role. Or, you might start out as an analyst and progress to a more senior position, such as senior analyst, statistician, public health principal or head of intelligence.
  2. Anaesthesia

    Anaesthetists are the largest group of hospital-based specialists and give anaesthetics for surgical, medical and psychiatric procedures.

    Training usually starts with a five year first degree in medicine and two years foundation training. Core anaesthetics route: two years core training (CT1-2), followed by five years specialist training (ST3-7). ACCS route: three years core training (CT1-3), followed by five years specialist training (ST4-8). 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, weekends and on call. The basic salary ranges from £29,384 to £34,012. Once you start your specialty training as an anaesthetist 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.
    In 2020, there were 1,479 applications for 569 places for anaesthetic specialty training. You could specialise or conduct research in areas such as pain medicine, teach medical or postgraduate students, or get involved in research.
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