To ask advice about medical/health type jobs?

[Albatross26]

Feeling a bit stuck at the moment job (and indeed life) wise. Have been a TA in a secondary school for seven years now. There are lots of really good things about it - I am a department specialist and feel valued, and on the whole enjoy working with the kids!
Money is pants though and I feel I'm stagnating. I'm really interested in looking at jobs in healthcare I'm just not sure what I could do. I like first aid - I'm a trained first aider and am hoping to volunteer with st john ambulance soon. Feel like I'm a bit too old to totally retrain now so can't see nursing being an option - maybe healthcare assistant?

Sorry for being a bit rambly, any advice greatly appreciated!

I work as a healthcare assistant in my local hospital. Find out if yours has a nurse bank and when they are recruiting. Also check out www.nhs.jobs .
There are a lot of care agency's working in the community if you drive. Also nursing homes.
On a side note you are never too old to retrain.

What about being a phlebotomist? As long as you're ok with needles and blood

I am looking to retrain as a nurse in my mid to late thirties. When I spoke to someone at the uni they said they had people in their 50s training. Don't dismiss it on the grounds of age alone.

I qualified as a nurse at 32 alongside people in their 40s and 50s, so agree with Jeepers not to rule out nurse training based solely on age.

Health & welfare officer in a secondary school?

HCA and a lot of jobs in healthcare are poorly paid without the sweet pill of school annual leave. I agree with the others though, don't rule anything out down to age. The age people these days are having to retire at, you could find yourself in your new role for 20 years plus!

I suppose it's not so much age more that having completed a degree and a masters in academic subjects it would feel like they were a bit wasted!
School hols are definitely a bonus. Welfare officer would be great but there's none being advertised around here. I like the idea of something like phlebotomist, will do some research! I can't drive so that rules some things out unfortunately..