Healthcare Scientist

Healthcare Scientists help prevent, diagnose and treat illness using their knowledge of science and their technical skills. They use their expertise to help save lives and improve patient care in a supporting role or in direct contact with patients.

You will work in four main areas - life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences and biomechanical engineering and bioinformatics.

Healthcare Scientists can work in laboratories and use a variety of highly specialised equipment to analyse body tissue, blood and other bodily fluids. However, many healthcare scientists such as those in the physiological sciences and some in physical sciences and biomechanical engineering will have a lot of direct patient contact and work in clinics or on wards.

Healthcare Scientist is also known as Scientist.

Role Characteristics

Work in diagnostic laboratories and pathology departments in hospitals
Help to develop and improve tests to diagnose infectious disease, through ongoing improvement and innovation
Use specialist equipment, advanced technologies and a range of different procedures to evaluate the functioning of different body systems
Diagnose abnormalities and provide therapeutic intervention and long-term management
Develop and apply physical techniques such as ultrasound, radioactivity, radiation, magnetic resonance, electromagnetism and optical imaging
Explore or record the workings of the body for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.

Skills

Attention to detail
Creative thinking
Following instructions
Operating equipment
Problem-solving
Using technology

Day in the life

Watch this video to learn about the role of a Healthcare Scientist.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

BTEC

T-Level

A-Levels

An apprenticeship

Undergraduate degree

How to become

There are a variety of training and education routes into Healthcare Science including applying directly, apprenticeships and undergraduate degree programmes.

You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths and sciences, or equivalent. You will normally need either A-Levels, BTEC or T-Levels depending on your preference in learning. However, volunteering and work experience is valued by employers.

If you decide to undertake a degree it would need to be in a science subject such as life sciences, biology or biochemistry, genetics, biomedical science or medical physics.

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

With experience you could become a Team Leader or Manager. You could also study to become a Consultant Clinical Scientist or mover into Healthcare Management. You could move into research and study for a PhD qualification and teach in higher education.