Anybody work in Healthcare Science?

[elsiemarleysellsthebarley]

I’ve been considering retraining for a while and the latest lockdown could well see me unemployed. I have a degree in chemistry (a million yrs ago) but have worked in the arts since then.

I’ve looked at lab support/ assistant roles with a view to progressing to associate levels but could maybe afford to do a second degree if I could make the cost back.

What’s it actually like?! What’s your day like? Do you enjoy it? Do you do shift/ night working? How easy is it to find work? (I’m not able to relocate). Any advice?! TIA

I work as a medical lab assistant and I know we can't find biochemical scientists for love nor money down here (am in the South West) they've had adverts sitting for months.

As an MLA my day is mainly dealing with incoming samples, labelling, booking them in, centrifuging and taking them through to the lab. We do also spend time in the lab assisting the BMS with their work which is a bit more involved.

Basic work though and a basic salary! We've had a few people who have degrees who are trying to do the last bit to be able to become a BMS (portfolio?) and they've also introduced a programme to train people up in house/uni as they're so in demand.