NHS Clinical Scientist Recruitment

hiya guys,

Im only 16 and soon to be going into sixth form. My preferable career would be being a doctor, although if i fail to get the grades, I am exploring the possibility of taking biomedicine, and taking that route into medicine, or using that to go up a slightly different career path, like this one.

Firstly, am I right to believe that biomedicine is a suitable course? (I am most interested in the neuroscience or cardiac courses)
How hard is it to get onto one of these courses?

Thank you, and good luck to anyone that is applying for the next intake

I'd say for the more medicine-allied areas of the stp training, the competitiveness is the same or greater than for postgraduate entry into medicine. Also bear in mind that compared to medicine there are a relatively tiny number of clinical scientists in the life/bio specialisms. Which means it takes fewer people to make the training places massively over subscribed.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 4021

Nat89

1

Original post by nimmity

Are there any medical physicists who would be happy to answer some questions for me?
I'm a physics teacher looking to change careers and need a little advice on what path to take.

Thanks

Hiya,

I start my training next month. I've also been working in a radiotherapy department on-and-off for the last 6months, and work on a project to do with measuring dose in radiotherapy. I also have an MSc in Medical Radiation Physics. I've loved it all, it's a great career path I think.

If you've got any questions let me know :smile:

Reply 4022

TheOnlyNeeNee

Hi,
I'm new to TSR. Can someone please tell me what the NHS Scientist Training Programme is about? I'm doing my undergrad in Biology and I am interested in doing an MSc in Neuroscience, however reading through this thread quickly seems quite interesting. Does this give you an MSc as well as paid salary work? Please can someone inform me. Thanks.

Reply 4023

nimmity

A lot applicants in other sciences have lab experience to support their applications.
Any ideas of what kind of previous experience (outside of academia) could help a med phys application?
Is it worth taking a pay cut in order to work in a clinical environment? But it wouldn't be med phys -I can't find any roles which don't require further training.

Reply 4024

Nat89

1

Hi all,

I was just wondering who else will be training in Liverpool, and who will be attending the MSc there?

I'm in Liverpool for both, for Medical Physics

Nat :smile:

Reply 4025

Quixeh

Original post by nimmity

A lot applicants in other sciences have lab experience to support their applications.
Any ideas of what kind of previous experience (outside of academia) could help a med phys application?
Is it worth taking a pay cut in order to work in a clinical environment? But it wouldn't be med phys -I can't find any roles which don't require further training.

My previous experience included a week's shadowing of Medical Physicists at various departments, 6 years of part time first aid and first responder experience (eg, Glastonbury, Reading, London Marathon, lots of smaller events) working as part of a large medical team, summers at uni spent in physics research environments and the previous summer as a software engineer for a media company.

My dissertation also focused on future radiotherapy techniques and was entirely self taught from research papers. Try to link any projects you've done back helping you in Medical Physics, eg Programming, Nuclear Lab, Optics etc.

How much my previous experience helped, I have no idea, but I got a place so its not insignificant.

Reply 4026

nimmity

A slightly random question.
Does anyone know of anyone who started a family part way through training? Taking a year out and then returning part time?
Do you think it would be possible? (Unadvisable I'm sure)

Reply 4027

HecLondon

Hi All,

I am going to start my 3rd year in Physics at Imperial College and I am planning to apply for the NHS medical physics training.
I would like to know from someone that has already been through the training (preferably recent years) how is the selection process, what should I be doing this year to improve my chances etc.

Also, when does the selection process start, how long is it?

Any info will be much welcomed!

Thanks,
Hector

Reply 4028

breakout

Original post by nimmity

A slightly random question.
Does anyone know of anyone who started a family part way through training? Taking a year out and then returning part time?
Do you think it would be possible? (Unadvisable I'm sure)

In short, no. You might be able to negotiate taking a year out but the workload (for the clinical scientist training at least) is just too high to manage it part time. If you're counting the time spent on the MSc too then you'd never be in the lab. Also, the departments get outside funding for your position, it would be up to the health authority to allow you a year off.

Original post by nimmity

A lot applicants in other sciences have lab experience to support their applications.
Any ideas of what kind of previous experience (outside of academia) could help a med phys application?
Is it worth taking a pay cut in order to work in a clinical environment? But it wouldn't be med phys -I can't find any roles which don't require further training.

I had five years lab experience, but no clinical experience. I'm not sure how much the lab experience helped me get to interview (I applied last year and heard nothing, this year I interviewed for two specialties and was offered a place) but I know the basic knowledge that's ingrained in lab work was useful in answering the questions. Eg. for my specialisms there were questions at interview on the Westgard Rules. If you deal with them everyday it's easier to call them to mind under pressure!

Reply 4029

louisecc

Original post by nimmity

A slightly random question.
Does anyone know of anyone who started a family part way through training? Taking a year out and then returning part time?
Do you think it would be possible? (Unadvisable I'm sure)

You're officially employed by the NHS under Agenda for Change. Whilst the money does come from outside the normal Trust budget, I'm sure the employer would HAVE to give you maternity leave etc as described in your contract under Agenda for Change. In theory you'd just pick up where you left off after your leave, but it may interfere with some of the timings of exams and placements etc and make completing the training programme a little more complicated to organise. But returning to work part time afterwards might not work well or be allowed. That would probs be down to your boss/SHA.

Reply 4030

mateyface

1

Original post by nimmity

A slightly random question.
Does anyone know of anyone who started a family part way through training? Taking a year out and then returning part time?
Do you think it would be possible? (Unadvisable I'm sure)

Having a baby should be fine. Be aware that there's a period of time someone has to be working before they get pregnant before they get proper maternity benefits. Returning part time rather than full time would probably have to be negotiated.

Reply 4031

DoubleInfinity

Hi all,

I applied to the STP in 2011 and was unsuccessful ( i dont know why), last year i missed the deadline ( i think i had a brainfreeze and completly forgot the date)
This year (2013 entry) i am determined to get in...
I have 4 years lab experience (mostly microbiology) and 1 year clinical experience (healthcare assistant) however due to redundancy i have recentkly left lab work for clinical trials which is mostly office based, do you think this will look bad on my application?
Does any successful candidates have any advice for me in regards to any extra work experience i can do or anything to strengthen my application? I am primarily interested in the microbiology scheme!!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated !!
:smile:

Reply 4032

Dental mentor

10

When do applications start up again?

Reply 4033

DoubleInfinity

Original post by Gucci Mane2010

When do applications start up again?

Should be late 2012/early 2013

Reply 4034

Biro

2

Just saw this thread. Is this the same as the scientist training programme? I only have a 2.2. so there is no point in applying right?

Reply 4035

Quixeh

Original post by Biro

Just saw this thread. Is this the same as the scientist training programme? I only have a 2.2. so there is no point in applying right?

Yes, this is the STP.

Unfortunately the entry requirements are for a 2:1, and people who passed interview were turned away after not achieving the correct results. If you do a masters however, the situation is different.

Good Luck!

Reply 4036

nimmity

I am planning to apply for medical physics next year. What has hit me on my work exp is that my basic biology knowledge is pretty poor.

I'm looking for a distance learning course to help me improve. Those in medical physics, do you think a course in human biology or anatomy and physiology would be most useful?

Thanks everyone for being so helpful and answering my many questions. :smile:

Reply 4037

Biro

2

Hey, thanks for the reply. If I do a masters would I be considered?

Also what masters courses would be most relevant?

Original post by Quixeh

Yes, this is the STP.

Unfortunately the entry requirements are for a 2:1, and people who passed interview were turned away after not achieving the correct results. If you do a masters however, the situation is different.

Good Luck!

Reply 4038

Quixeh

Original post by nimmity

I am planning to apply for medical physics next year. What has hit me on my work exp is that my basic biology knowledge is pretty poor.

I'm looking for a distance learning course to help me improve. Those in medical physics, do you think a course in human biology or anatomy and physiology would be most useful?

Thanks everyone for being so helpful and answering my many questions. :smile:

Physicists have only a very basic need for biology - if we need to know it, we learn it. In-depth anatomical knowledge is the realm of Medics and Radiographers.

Having said that, the STP includes an anatomy and physiology module to get us all started (eg a week solid of lectures/text book learning). GCSE Biology is a perfectly fine starting point.

I'm not confident I can distinguish between an A&P module as opposed to Human Biology, so I'll leave that question to someone else!

Reply 4039

Quixeh

Original post by Biro

Hey, thanks for the reply. If I do a masters would I be considered?

Also what masters courses would be most relevant?

Assuming you did well in your masters yes. A masters in Medical Physics would be most relevant - in particular the course that you'd do on the STP (KCL, Liverpool or Newcastle). Apparently, students that pay their way through the masters are usually later recruited, however if that applies to the new scheme I have no idea.

However - this is an expensive way forwards, and there are no guarantees. The STP recruitment doesn't just look at grades, and with (apparently) 38 applicants per post this year you'll be up against stiff competition.

NHS Clinical Scientist Recruitment

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