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Health and social care

If you have a real passion for people and a concern for their health and social wellbeing, then a career in medicine could suit you. Those who are involved in medicine work to prevent disease, promote healthcare and prolong human life.

Doctor

Doctors care for the physical and mental health of the people under their care, by diagnosing and treating illnesses, diseases and infections. There are many different areas that a doctor can go into including a general practitioner (GP), a psychiatrist, a surgeon, a lecturer, a medical researcher or a public health technician to name a few. Doctors therefore work in a variety of settings, such as in a hospital or on a ship or as a family doctor in general practice (GP).

Radiographer

Could you be a body detective and look at high quality images to discover what is making someone feel ill? Or could you handle powerful machinery and use nuclear medicine to help fight cancer? Both roles are known as radiography. There are two types of radiography, diagnostic and therapeutic.

A diagnostic radiographer diagnoses diseases. By using radiation, ultrasound or magnetism, they can look inside the body to discover an illness, disease or injury. A diagnostic radiographer works mainly in the radiography centre of a hospital. A therapeutic radiographer uses x-rays and other radioactive sources to treat illnesses and in particular, cancer.

Therapeutic radiographers mainly work in the department of the hospital that studies tumours this is known as the oncology department.

Social Worker

A social worker works with doctors, schools, the police, the courts and other agencies to help support individuals and families and to help them find solutions to problems that they cannot solve themselves. These problems range from unemployment and poverty to health problems and divorce. A social worker needs to develop a friendly, but professional relationship with the people they help.

Other careers that use medicine Ambulance technician Biomedical scientist Clinical scientist Community nurse Complimentary therapist Dental hygienist Dental nurse Dental technician Dentist Midwifery Optician Orthodentist Paramedic Pharmacist Physiotherapist Social worker Sports medicine Vet Veterinary nurse

Want to know more?

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk NHS Careers currently specialises in careers information about medicine, dentistry, nursing, midwifery, healthcare science and the allied health professions.

www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk excellent website for gaining an insight into working life with the National Health Service (NHS). Why not map your career, look at case studies or view diary rooms of people working within the NHS.