The healthcare sector has been a highly popular career choice in the UK for many, many decades now. Although NHS hospitals and clinics suffer staffing shortages, most of the time this is due to management issues or a lack of resources than there being a lack of interest in working in healthcare. Every year courses in medicine and nursing continue to be hugely popular–and therefore also very competitive and difficult to get into.

Yes, it’s clear that there are if anything too many of us out there who want to put our talents to use in caring for people. And that can surely only be a good thing; keep it in mind next time you’re feeling like the world is a cold, uncaring place. The problem, however, is that a lot of the time these eager-to-help people often only consider the most well-known of the healthcare roles–especially nursing and medicine–and if they’re unsuccessful in their attempts to study these courses, they turn their attentions to another field entirely.

This is a shame, as there are other jobs within the health sector that those same people would undoubtedly have enjoyed every bit as much as the courses they’ve been rejected for.

So, we thought we’d dedicate today’s blog post to having a look at other careers on the frontline of healthcare that could be right up your street if you’re interested in working in this most rewarding of industries.

Paramedic

It’s strange how often people who are interested in saving lives overlook this role, as there’s surely no other job where you can play such a dramatic and decisive role in determining whether a person survives in an emergency situation. As the first person on the scene, you need to stay calm under pressure and ensure that the patient first of all gets essential emergency treatment on the scene, and then safely taken to a hospital and into the capable hands of its staff. But not every callout is so dramatic; paramedics are also on hand to offer support and care to much lesser problems which nevertheless have left people feeling vulnerable and in distress. There’s probably no other job that ranks as high in terms of people valuing the help you’ve given them.

Entry into this profession takes the form of taking a university-level course in paramedic science, before then registering with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). You’ll also of course need to be a very confident and capable driver.

Operating Department Practitioner

This is the ideal job for those who don’t crave the limelight but nevertheless want to play a central role in saving lives. ODPs work at the heart of the operating process, before, during and after a procedure. They prepare the theatre to ensure it is ready for the procedure; they assist patients before they go into surgery; they assist the surgeon and other members of the operating team during the procedure itself, striving for a highly efficient working environment to maximize the chance of the surgery’s success; and monitor the patient after the surgery is completed.

It’s a role that requires a huge level of attention to detail, exemplary teamwork and communications skills, and an ability to stay calm during stressful situations. Entry into the profession takes the form of studying a diploma at university in Operating Department Practice, followed by registration with the HCPC.