Clinical informatics

Clinical informatics staff ensure that technology is part of everyday practice, enabling healthcare teams to provide safer, more efficient, and high-quality care.

As digital technology becomes increasingly vital in delivering outstanding NHS care, clinical informaticians will play a key role in healthcare innovation.

Life as a clinical informatician

You’ll be a digital guide for healthcare teams, helping everyone use technology in smart, safe, and helpful ways for patients and service users. Your work will cover things like

  • rolling out and supporting electronic patient record system
  • making sure these systems are used safely, helping teams deliver effective care
  • helping out with diagnostic technology, like radiology systems for X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds

You’ll usually be a healthcare professional who has developed a passion for using IT and information. You’ll usually work as part of a multidisciplinary team that brings together diverse expertise to ensure that technology solutions are safe, effective, and patient centred.

You might also support clinical governance and research, helping to analyse data from electronic records that drives improvements in treatments and health services.

Whatever your healthcare profession or clinical background, you’ll find meaningful opportunities to shape the future of digital healthcare.

Roles in clinical informatics

There are many roles available across different professional and clinical settings, for example:

Digital nurse/midwife

You’ll work in one of a range of roles available in education and informatics. You may lead the implementation of specialist electronic patient record content by providing expert digital training and advice.

Typical job roles include:

  • nursing/midwifery information officer: taking charge of day-to-day digital improvements, making sure technology works for staff and patients
  • digital nurses and midwives: bringing clinical systems to life on the ground, training teams, and supporting projects.

Teamwork is vital as you’ll be working with digital leads, clinical managers, and technology partners.

Pharmacy informaticist

You’ll play a vital role in digital transformation and ensuring patient safety.

You’ll bring specialist insight into the safe management of medications through your understanding of the challenges faced by clinicians and patients.

Your responsibilities include:

  • supporting the implementation and optimisation of specialist pharmacy systems
  • providing expertise in the safe prescribing and administration of medications
  • extending support to electronic patient record systems for holistic care
  • working with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient safety and effective practice

Medical informaticist

You’ll bring a vital clinical perspective to digital healthcare systems. You’ll make sure that every technological advancement has diagnostic accuracy and clinical safety at its heart. Working collaboratively with both clinical and technical teams, you’ll help shape and support digital solutions that underpin a wide range of clinical services.

You’ll work collaboratively with clinical and technical teams, shaping and supporting digital solutions for a wide range of clinical services.

You may spend some of your working week advising on digital services or take on a full-time leadership position such as chief clinical information officer (CCIO).

How much can I earn

Your salary will depend on your professional background and experience but generally:

  • Entry-level roles such as junior educators typically start at AfC Band 6.
  • Senior clinical roles will usually be band 8b and above
  • Very senior positions, such as heads of service or directors may be band 9 or an equivalent grade, depending on your clinical profession and employment terms.

Most roles in the NHS fall under the national Agenda for Change (AfC) pay and conditions system, while doctors have terms set by the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration.

How about the benefits

  • Make a difference
  • Flexible and part-time working
  • Good opportunities for progression
  • Thriving cyber profession
  • Excellent pension scheme
  • Good holiday entitlement, increasing with service
  • NHS discounts in shops and restaurants

Must have skills

  • Clinical expertise, with experience in management and leadership at the departmental level
  • Proven ability to manage and lead teams
  • Strong background in change management
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Proficiency in using healthcare information technology
  • Ability to analyse information, evidence, and data to support decision-making
  • Ability to work independently and as a part of a team
  • Attention to detail

Entry requirements 

  • Registered healthcare professional
  • A period of clinical experience in your profession
  • Experience in a specialist clinical setting may be important.  

What are my chances of starting a career in clinical informatics?

Digital innovation and technology are at the heart of the future NHS and social care. This means that clinical informatics roles will be of growing in importance and open to anyone with the right skills and experience.

With technology shaping the way healthcare is delivered, clinical informatics professionals are set to play a pivotal role in transforming health and care .  

How to become a clinical informatics professional?

If you’re considering a future in clinical informatics, starting with a healthcare-related degree is essential. You can then gain experience in a healthcare role so that you understand the daily operations of healthcare and how technology directly impacts your area of expertise. Clinical informatics teams highly value professionals with hands-on experience who understand the challenges, as this helps effective engagement with frontline teams.

You may be able to build clinical informatics experience through a secondment or placement, particularly during project implementations or the rollout of new patient record systems. These help you determine if a role in clinical informatics is the right fit for you and strengthen any future job applications in informatics.

It’s key to stay up to date in your clinical specialty and in digital advancements. You can do this by looking for ways to enhance your clinical skills and digital literacy, so that you remain competitive and effective as the sector continues to transform.

Where a career in clinical informatics can take you?

The skills you develop in these roles are highly transferable, opening doors to similar positions across the NHS. Along the way, you’ll gain valuable management and leadership experience, preparing you for senior roles such as chief nurse information officer (CNIO) or chief clinical information officer (CCIO) or within broader leadership.

Whether you want to specialise further or step into a leadership position, a career in clinical informatics provides a strong foundation for your future.

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