Health Matters with Fiona Hogg: There's so much more to NHS than doctors and nurses and apprentice week is a great time to thinkj about the hundreds of other roles
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Traditionally, when people think of working in the NHS, they tend to think about doctors and nurses, but in addition there are hundreds of other roles that we need to keep people in Highland and Argyll and Bute healthy and well.
During Scottish Apprenticeship Week, it seems a good time to reflect on the huge number of roles available in NHS Highland.
The apprenticeship programme demonstrates some of this diversity, including positions in business and administration, engineering, procurement, hospitality management, IT and communications, and we are working all the time to expand this range.
And with foundation, modern and graduate apprenticeships on offer, there are opportunities for people to start their career at all levels as well as to progress in their existing role. We’re really excited to work with local partners, including UHI, to offer the chance for people to learn and work simultaneously right here in the Highlands.
As director of people and culture, I am privileged to work alongside clinical and care professionals, healthcare scientists, midwives, allied health professionals and colleagues in finance, facilities, IT, project management, procurement and more.
“Doctors” includes radiologists, surgeons, anaesthetists, oncologists, general practitioners, psychiatrists and many other specialities.
A nursing career can range from being a district nurse or health visitor caring for patients in the community, to a nurse practitioner working within general practice, acute hospital or a mental health setting, or specialists in neonatal, respiratory, infection control or another area.
Public health is a function that has been particularly highlighted over the past two years and is a fascinating and diverse area focused on improving and protecting the health of our population.
Allied health professions describe a range of roles including physiotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, osteopaths and speech and language therapists, among others.
In fact, there are so many skills and roles that make up NHS Highland that it impossible to name them all here!
Another vital part of the workforce in Highland are our colleagues delivering social care, through roles in care homes, day centres and providing care at home, social work and many other services. Colleagues working in these areas study towards recognised qualifications and are registered professionals.
Many who start as a support worker or carer access training and support to move into nursing, social work or leadership roles. This is an expanding area as we try to support more of our population with their wish to remain at home or in a home-like setting for longer.
NHS Highland can offer the flexibility and progression of a large employer, combined with the small, friendly teams, breadth of job role and beautiful locations associated with our fantastic location. And by supporting people to live, learn and work here we can grow our own talent and encourage thriving communities, including in our more remote and rural areas.
It is not just apprentices that can earn and learn with NHS Highland. We have a wide programme of in-house development programmes and are committed to supporting career development opportunities, working with partner colleges and universities.
If you work for the NHS, you can access support including sabbaticals or study leave; endowment funding to support career development; events and e-learning; as well as tapping into Scotland-wide programmes.
So whether you are just starting to think about your career options or thinking of a change, a new start or a sideways move, consider NHS Highland.
If you share our values
of quality and teamwork, care and compassion, openness and honesty,
and dignity and respect, then have a look at our vacancies on https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/ – your next step could be closer than you think.
Fiona Hogg is NHS Highland’s director of people and culture.
