17 Jan Top Five In-Demand UK Healthcare Jobs in 2024
Like many countries, the UK is expected to face a shortage of qualified and competent healthcare professionals. The King’s Fund estimates a 50,000 to 100,000 NHS staff shortage by 2030. From this, it follows that healthcare professionals are more in demand than ever– professionals like specialist doctors, NPs, and HCAs. What you’re about to read is an exposé on exactly why the NHS, and indeed the United Kingdom at large, is in desperate demand of these health professionals.
Why The UK’s Healthcare Workers Are Slipping Through Its Fingers
Numerous factors have impacted the overall number of healthcare professionals willing to work in the UK:
- Brexit has impacted the number of healthcare workers able to migrate from the European Union to work.
- The UK’s ageing population and rise of chronic illnesses have vastly strained the existing healthcare workforce.
- Burnout has hugely impacted the motivation to work in healthcare.
- Low wages and working conditions discourage workers from caring for patients.
Most In-Demand Healthcare Workers in the UK
Now that we know why the UK’s number of healthcare workers is in shortage, let’s look at the top five most in-demand healthcare workers this year.
1. Nurse Practitioners (NPs): Most Needed Healthcare Worker
NPs, or nurse practitioners, are nurses who have studied to a master’s degree level and typically specialise in an area of study. This could be critical care nursing, neonatal nursing, or mental health nursing, although there are many other specialities. They usually have advanced clinical, hands-on training, and rigorous national certification as specified by The Nursing and Midwifery Council.
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do?
NPs provide the same services as registered nurses but with much higher competence. NPs may also progress to become educators in nursing or ward managers.
Why Are NPs In Particular In Demand?
NPs are unique in their approach to caring for the whole person–that’s their mind and body–to promote health and well-being. They fill the primary care gap by diagnosing, treating, and sometimes prescribing medication for illnesses. They also increase patient access to specialists, helping fill the gaping chasm of crucial specialists needed to treat the diverse UK patient.
How Will The NP Industry Grow And Change In 2024?
The Royal College of Nursing forecasts a 30% increase in advanced nursing practitioners by 2030. Growth could be faster in rural areas due to the shortage of specialist physicians. This promises an excellent job outlook for NPs.
2. Mental Health Healthcare Workers
The demand for mental health workers is steadily rising with mental health awareness.
Some of these workers include:
- Psychologists (studies behaviour and treatment of mental conditions)
- LCSWs: licensed clinical social workers (help manage problems in society)
- LPCs: licensed professional counsellors (guide you in psychological or personal problems)
- Psychiatrists (treat mental illness with chemical medicine)
- Psychiatric nurses–RMN (nurses specialised in mental health)
- Mental health technicians (evaluate patients and help professionals)
These professionals’ educations range from bachelor’s of science degrees to doctorates. Their work includes active listening, writing reports, counselling, in some cases prescribing medication (including anxiety, depression, antipsychotics, and mood stabiliser medication, etc.)
Why Are Mental Health Workers Especially In Demand?
These workers are in demand because of the rising number of patients suffering mental health issues–like depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and psychosis, for instance– rising as a result of social pressure, economic uncertainty, and lowered quality of life. The supply of these professionals is increasingly unable to keep up with demand due to limited access to training and professional training and growth, uncompetitive salaries, compassion fatigue and burnout, and professionals being uncomfortable with new health technologies.
3. Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists (PTs) evaluate, treat and educate you on physical problems and conditions. They’re also responsible for rehabilitating patients and preventing future injury.
A few examples include:
- Orthopaedic PTs (treat muscular and skeletal problems, from sprains to joint replacements).
- Neurological PTs (work with brain conditions, from strokes to cerebral palsy).
- Geriatric PTs (work with older adults to maintain independence and prevent injuries).
- Cardiopulmonary PTs (improve heart and lung health).
- Pediatric PTs (help children with disabilities and injuries).
Why Are Physical Therapists So In Demand?
PTs are more in demand than ever because of the rising age of the population, rising chronic disease rates, and focus on preventative care. Moreover, they are more cost-effective than specialist physicians, work with newer medical technology, and are expanding their scope of practice, therefore being able to treat a wider range of medical conditions and perform more advanced procedures. They may also be able to close the gap between the shortage of specialist doctors and nurses and the ever-expanding, rapidly diversifying patient population.
4. Home Health Aides
Home health aides, also known as HHAs, provide healthcare in people’s homes, saving them thousands of pounds. They help individuals with self-care, emotional support, medication management, communication with other healthcare professionals, observation of behaviour, and monitoring of vital signs. Typically, these healthcare providers are not registered nurses or doctors but often work under their skilled supervision. They are non-licensed healthcare workers.
Why Home Health Aides Are In Demand
The ageing population calls for more help with assisted living. Some people may also have a preference for home-based care because of the familiar environment this fosters and the personalised care provided.
HHAs also ease the burden on other health professionals, allowing them to focus on other serious cases. Also, home health care is more cost-effective than an assisted living centre, further driving demand for these home helpers.
5. Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs)
These technological wizards are responsible for analysing blood, tissue, and an array of other bodily fluids – results that inform 60-70% of crucial medical decisions. They collect and prepare samples, arrange and analyse data, use medical technology, and communicate results. They also contribute towards patient safety by ensuring correct blood types for infusions and play a crucial role in research and development in medicine.)
To work as a medical laboratory technician, you’ll need a BSc in laboratory technology and strong analytical skills.
The types of medical technicians include:
- Clinical chemists (specialise in blood and bodily fluids to assess organ, electrolyte, and hormone function)
- Haematologists (specialise in analysing blood cells)
- Microbiologists (specialises in cultures and bacteria)
- Immunologists (specialise in the immune system and its responses to foreign substances)
- Transfusion medicine (specialises in matching blood types for transfusion)
- Cytologists (examine cells from different tissues)
- Histopathologists (diagnoses inflammatory conditions and cancers)
Why Medical Laboratory Technicians Are In Demand
These technicians are in demand due to the development of new diagnostic tests and the rising number of patients developing chronic diseases, increasing the amount of sample analysis needed. MLTs also play a crucial role in supporting doctors and nurses during staffing shortages.
In conclusion, the top five most sought-after medical professionals are:
- Nurse practitioners
- Mental health professionals
- Physical therapists
- Home health aides
- Medical laboratory technicians
This is because of the ageing population of the UK and the growing number of patients presenting with chronic illnesses.
If you want to get involved with medical agency work in the UK, don’t hesitate to contact us today for personalised support in landing a healthcare job.