already a member?   login »
username password

Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Jobs UK

Find your ideal Medical, Nursing and Allied Health jobs in the UK by applying for jobs and registering with agencies up to two years before you plan to travel to the UK.

Prepare for the experience of a lifetime by reading this page and visiting our essential tips section.

Receive UK medical job updates sent to your inbox by subscribing to WORKgateways’ monthly e-newsletter.

Learn how to get the UK jobs you really want – Visit our FAQ's section.

Medical and Health Jobs UK


Interested in a job in the UK medical or health profession? Apply for Jobs or Register now.

Introduction

The health and medical industry in the UK is dynamic and an ideal destination for qualified overseas professionals looking to broaden their horizons! The opportunities for overseas trained professionals are many and varied from temporary and contract work to permanent positions.

There are critical shortages in certain sectors, with many professions crying out for experienced workers.

Links below to essential information — Allied Health Professionals and Doctor Information including Speech Pathologists, Cardiac Technicians, Audiologists, Dieticians and Occupational Therapists


  Back to Medical and Health Jobs UK   UK Job Search   Register    FAQ's

Where are the jobs available in the UK?

The NHS – Europe’s largest employer
The UK has a publicly-funded health care system providing free health and medical services to people living in Britain. The National Health Service (NHS) accounts for more than 90% of all health care in Britain making it Europe’s largest employer with a workforce of nearly one million people.

While the NHS presents many career opportunities for Medical, Nursing and Allied Health professionals, there is also the option of searching for work in private medical practices, hospitals and nursing homes.

London Job Opportunities
NHS vacancies are twice the national average in London, creating a vast array of opportunities for those wanting a fast-paced job in an even faster-paced city!

Currently the most significant demand UK wide is for Radiographers, Nurses and many Allied Health Professionals including Speech Pathologists, Cardiac Technicians, Audiologists, Dieticians and Occupational Therapists.

Other positions available include Chiropodists/ Podiatrists, Psychotherapists, Physiotherapists, Paramedics, Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Pharmacists and Optometrists.

Within these occupations there are diverse and specialised positions, and employment ranges from locum, rota and shift work to contract and permanent.

UK visa and immigration information

Before you can begin any type of work in the UK you must have the appropriate visa or work permit. A working holiday visa will allow most health professionals to find temporary or contract work (except for doctors who cannot practise in the UK on a working holiday visa) while UK Ancestry Visas, EU passports and UK Right to Abode certificates will allow you to work unrestricted in either contract or permanent UK health and medical jobs. (Note: There are restrictions to the Holiday Work Visa, please refer to our Visa section, Forum and official websites for more details on all the different visas and permits)

If you are unable to get a work visa or become a highly skilled migrant, you will need to be sponsored by a hospital, private clinic or company in order to work in the UK.

In this instance you are normally required to commit to at least a year with that employer due to the expenses and paper work involved in sponsoring overseas candidates. Sponsorship requires high levels of demand and it is usually much easier to get started in the UK on a visa that you can obtain yourself.


  Back to Medical and Health Jobs UK   UK Job Search   Register    FAQ's

Qualifications required

The qualifications you need to work in the UK as a health professional will depend on your occupation. As in most countries, health and medical positions in the UK require a tertiary qualification from a recognised educational institution.

Depending on your occupation you may have to have your qualifications assessed by the profession’s regulatory body to ensure you meet the training standards to practice in the UK, so be prepared to provide detailed evidence of your course structure and content, as well as documentation of your qualifications.

Many positions also require you to have at least two years experience in addition to your educational qualifications.

Registration with professional and governing bodies – essential information!

Most professions will require you to register with the relevant professional UK body before you can lawfully practice under that profession.

Most health professionals will also need to register with the Health Professions Council (HPC).

The Health Professions Council (HPC) is the professional body that sets and maintains standards of professional training, performance and conduct for over a dozen health and medical professions in the UK.

It is not compulsory for all professions but is for most and it is recommended to register anyway. For many allied health professions it is illegal to practice under the title of your occupation in the UK if you are not HPC registered.

Registration with the HPC can take as long as four months so be sure to allow plenty of time for this process and apply well in advance of your departure for the UK. Registration costs £200. As well as registering with the HPC the following occupations require further registration or approval:

Speech and Language Therapists
Approval from Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Pharmacists
Must register with Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Pharmacists from Australia and New Zealand must complete a four week pre-registration period.
Dispensing Opticians or Optometrists
Must register with the General Optical Council

  Back to Medical and Health Jobs UK   UK Job Search   Register    FAQ's

How much can I expect to earn working in the UK?

As in all industries, the rate of pay you can expect will of course depend on your position, employer, specialisation, experience and qualifications. As a general rule, Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Jobs in the UK pay comparably well, especially in sectors that are experiencing skills shortages.

As a rough guide, your annual earnings are:

Nurses   £17,000 - £30,000
Doctors   £35,000 - £100,000
Radiographers   £17,000 - £35,000
Dieticians Bands 5-7 £19,000 - £35,000
Physiotherapists Bands 5-8 £19,000 - £60,000
Occupational Therapists Bands 4-5 £16,000 - £25,000
Psychologists Bands 7-8 £26,000 - £70,000
Pharmacists Bands 3-7 £15,000 - £35,000
Podiatrists Bands 4-6 £16,000 - £30,000
Paramedics Bands 5-6 £19,000 - £30,000
Speech & Language Therapists Bands 4-8 £16,000 - £70,000
Optometrists Bands 6-7 £22,000 - £35,000

Employers who are in a dire need of skilled staff often offer excellent fringe benefits such as living allowances and accommodation assistance, with some even offering to pay for your travel to the UK!

Under the NHS’s new Agenda for Change pay system, health and medical professions are divided into nine pay bands, with several pay increments within each band. Most occupations have their entry level positions in the lower bands with the most senior roles in the highest bands. Levels of pay increase as you gain experience and progress through the increments in each band.

Rates of pay do vary, especially for contract and on-call work. There are also differences between private clinics and the NHS.


  Back to Medical and Health Jobs UK   UK Job Search   Register    FAQ's

Finding a job in the UK

The best way to ensure you find the job that suits you is to Register with Medical Agencies prior to your arrival in the UK. Registering with WORKgateways’ recruitment partners is one of the most effective ways to find work in your field, and you get personal assistance in finding the best position.

You can register with agencies up to two years before your arrival in the UK and ideally have your dream job lined up before you even start packing!

Already in the UK? - Visit our Job Search now.

Who are the Medical Recruitment Agencies on WORKgateways?

In the UK there are thousands of agencies who recruit Medical, Nursing and Allied Health professionals, however only a few agencies provide an effective recruitment service for job seekers arriving from overseas. This is for the most part due to the additional complexities involved such as registration with HPC and other bodies, work visas, travel plans etc. (Some positions also require police checks)

That’s where WORKgateways and our partners come in. A handful of excellent agencies focus on professionals from overseas. These agencies have consultants who can ensure that your transition into the UK is smooth and enjoyable.

The Checklist – What you’ll need

  • National Health Service hospitals
  • Have relevant qualifications for the occupation you wish to work in;
  • Have at least 12 months and in some cases up to two years professional experience;
  • Have an appropriate visa or work permit;
  • Have registered with the HPC – allow plenty of time for this;
  • Have registered with any professional bodies you are required to prior to working in your field in the UK;
  • Have an up-to-date professional CV, including references and evidence of qualifications and professional experience;
  • Ready for hard but enjoyable work and lots of adventures along the way!

  Back to Medical and Health Jobs UK   UK Job Search   Register    FAQ's

Doctors Jobs in the UK

There are close to 120,000 registered doctors in the UK, yet there is still a shortage in the National Health Service. However, recent changes to immigration regulations by the Home Office in the UK aiming to increase the number of ‘home-grown’ doctors in the NHS may make it more difficult for overseas trained doctors to secure a position in an NHS hospital.

The NHS will now only be able to recruit internationally when they cannot fill a training post with a UK or EEA graduate, or a doctor in the UK with refugee status.

Placements for doctors in private facilities in the UK are still widely available and varied, covering all grades and specialities from short to long term placements. Locum work is popular and available UK wide. Accommodation is often provided free, or heavily subsidised by the hospitals, for locum doctors.

To work as a doctor in the UK, registration is required with the General Medical Council (GMC) prior to practicing. You can apply for provisional registration if you have not yet completed your 12 months internship at home or if you have completed your internship you can apply for full registration with the GMC.

In general, applications for doctors from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada are fairly straight forward. Application forms for registration with the GMC can be downloaded directly from their website. Registration can take up to six months so apply early! Full registration for doctors holding recognised overseas qualifications is £390.

Doctors cannot practise in the UK on a Working Holiday Visa. However check your family history as you may be eligible for either a UK Ancestry Visa or Right to Abode certificate if you are from a Commonwealth country – see UK Visas. Of course an EU passport will allow you to work unrestricted in Great Britain as well.

Useful links


  Back to Medical and Health Jobs UK     UK Job Search   Register    FAQ's

Go to top of page UK Jobs / UK Job Industries / Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Jobs UK