Secondary Care

Hospital directors, mental health unit managers, and ambulance service coordinators oversee the strategic and operational running of secondary care facilities, ensuring efficient service delivery and patient care. They manage financial planning, resource allocation, regulatory compliance, and workforce development. Operations managers ensure that hospitals, ambulance services, and mental health facilities function smoothly by coordinating staff, maintaining budgets, and handling logistics. These roles require strong leadership, decision-making, and the ability to respond to challenges in fast-moving healthcare environments.

Key Roles: Hospital directors, clinical service managers, operations managers, mental health unit managers, ambulance service coordinators, finance managers, HR managers

Skills & attributes: Leadership, strategic thinking, financial oversight, operational management, communication, and crisis management.

These roles are ideal for those who enjoy leading large teams, problem-solving, and making impactful decisions that improve healthcare services.

Specialist clinicians in secondary care provide advanced, often life-saving, medical treatment to patients. These roles require extensive training, with specialists diagnosing and managing complex health conditions, performing surgeries, and delivering targeted interventions. In hospitals, this includes consultants, surgeons, and specialist nurses who work in fields such as cardiology, oncology, and trauma care. Mental health professionals deliver psychiatric and psychological treatment, while critical care teams stabilise critically ill patients in ICUs and high-dependency units.

Key Rroles: Consultants (cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, psychiatry), specialist nurses, critical care nurses, mental health nurses, emergency medicine physicians, anaesthetists

Skills & attributes: Advanced clinical expertise, problem-solving, teamwork, attention to detail, and resilience under pressure.

These roles are ideal for those who excel in high-pressure environments and have a passion for complex patient care.

Diagnostic professionals and laboratory scientists play a vital role in secondary care, analysing medical samples, performing imaging scans, and supporting treatment plans. Radiographers, biomedical scientists, and pathologists work behind the scenes to provide crucial data that informs clinical decisions. MRI and CT technologists conduct advanced scans, while clinical scientists develop and refine testing methods for complex conditions.

Key roles: Radiographers, pathologists, biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, MRI/CT technologists, laboratory technicians

Skills & attributes: Analytical thinking, attention to detail, technical expertise, and problem-solving.

These roles are ideal for those who enjoy a mix of scientific analysis and hands-on diagnostic work.

Surgical and operative teams ensure successful patient outcomes in theatres and post-operative recovery. Surgeons, anaesthetists, and operating department practitioners (ODPs) work closely with theatre nurses to provide life-saving procedures. Surgical assistants and anaesthetic technicians help prepare patients, maintain sterile environments, and assist with post-operative care.

Key roles: Surgeons, operating department practitioners (ODPs), theatre nurses, surgical assistants, anaesthetic technicians

Skills & attributes: Manual dexterity, precision, teamwork, ability to remain calm under pressure.

These roles are ideal for those who thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes surgical settings.

Rehabilitation professionals help patients regain mobility, speech, and independence following illness, injury, or surgery. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists assist in physical recovery, while speech and language therapists support those with communication challenges. Prosthetists and orthotists design and fit assistive devices, helping patients regain functionality.

Key roles: Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, prosthetists, orthotists, rehabilitation support workers

Skills & attributes: Empathy, problem-solving, communication, and the ability to motivate patients through recovery.

These roles are ideal for those who enjoy seeing long-term patient progress and providing personalised care.

Emergency and critical care professionals work in high-pressure environments to stabilise and treat life-threatening conditions. Paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide immediate medical care at accident scenes, while intensive care nurses and trauma surgeons manage critically ill patients in hospital settings.

Key roles: Paramedics, EMTs, intensive care nurses, trauma surgeons, emergency response technicians

Skills & attributes: Quick decision-making, resilience, advanced clinical knowledge, and excellent communication.

These roles are ideal for those who excel under pressure and want to deliver life-saving interventions.

Administrative roles in secondary care ensure the smooth running of hospitals, mental health services, and ambulance operations. These professionals manage patient records, coordinate staff schedules, handle financial and logistical planning, and provide front-line support for patients and their families.

From ward clerks ensuring accurate patient data entry to medical secretaries managing critical correspondence between doctors and patients, administrative staff play a vital behind-the-scenes role. They also facilitate patient admissions, appointment scheduling, and insurance processing, helping maintain order in a complex environment.

Key roles: Hospital receptionists, ward clerks, medical secretaries, patient services coordinators, health records officers, service administrators, switchboard operators, finance officers, human resources assistants, procurement coordinators

Skills & attributes: Strong organisational skills, IT proficiency, attention to detail, discretion, communication skills, and the ability to multitask in high-pressure environments.

These roles are ideal for those who: Enjoy structured environments, excel at problem-solving, and take pride in keeping healthcare operations running smoothly behind the scenes.

Maintenance and facilities roles are essential to creating a clean, safe, and secure environment for patients, staff, and visitors in hospitals, mental health units, and ambulance stations. These roles involve maintaining hospital buildings and equipment, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and providing essential cleaning, catering, and security services.

Cleaning staff play a vital role in infection prevention and control, maintaining hygiene in patient wards, operating theatres, and emergency care areas. Security officers ensure the safety of staff and patients, particularly in high-pressure environments such as emergency departments and mental health units. Estates and facilities teams oversee the maintenance of hospital infrastructure, from heating and ventilation systems to medical equipment and emergency power supplies.

Key roles: Facilities managers, maintenance technicians, electricians, plumbers, security officers, porters, cleaners, catering assistants, health & safety officers, fire safety officers

Skills & attributes: Practical problem-solving, attention to detail, an understanding of health and safety regulations, reliability, and the ability to work independently or in teams.

These roles are ideal for those who: Enjoy hands-on work, take pride in maintaining safe and functional environments, and want to contribute to patient well-being in a non-clinical capacity.