What is it really like to work in Biomedical science

realist123 · 2025-08-23T13:20:52+00:00

I am considering training as a Biomedical Scientist as fancy a career change and one of the options for me. It would be quite a commitment as I would be entering as a mature student at 40 and it’s been a number of years since I studied. I have a course I am eying up potentially for healthcare science with an integrated placement where I can do my portfolio and apply for jobs straight after university. I wondered if anyone who works in the field specifically in an NHS lab can offer some insights into the career, honest pros and cons. Obviously no job is perfect but I am wondering do people who do it enjoy the job as you hear a lot of horror stories about burn out and the way the NHS is going. It would be a big move for me, I’ve done some research but would be good to hear from people who do or have done the role.

Confusedmermaid1 · 23/08/2025 18:52

I work as a BMS in the transfusion service. Naturally the fact I’m not directly patient facing means less pressure than some hospital colleagues experience. Generally better hours due to when donation clinics are scheduled.
There is still pressure of course, and a lot of procedure/policy which slows implementation of improvements which can be frustrating. I enjoy it and we also get a lot of recruits from hospitals looking for a better work life balance (there is weekend and night work but more infrequently)
Technically this also means that due to the majority of work being days we get paid ‘less’ than hospital colleagues due to not accruing unsocial hours etc. which leads some people to leave us for a hospital.

OneDaySucks · 23/08/2025 22:18

I trained as a BMS back in the 90s (well, MLSO back then…) when the pay was crap and no-one wanted to do the job. I then re-joined the register about 10 years ago when I was mid 40s. Also Transfusion related. I really enjoyed the work - interesting, important, felt valued….really rewarding job. A bit of patient contact (not much), some responsibility but only working within scope of competence, so not overly challenging.

In the end, I only lasted 2 years. Jobs that were Mon-Fri 9-5 were really hard to find and there was a lot of competition for them, so the reality was a requirement for a lot of shift work and/or being on call. In the end, I got a maternity cover but was then turned down from a permanent contract because the lab manager didn’t like my child care arrangements (go figure).

I am now totally disillusioned with the profession - there is always a lot of talk about a lack of qualified and experienced BMS staff, but newly qualified staff are expected to work as MLAs and do portfolios and stuff just to get their foot in the door, which doesn’t seem fair. I didn’t feel that there were many jobs available to apply for when I was looking. Even without shifts it can be hard work physically, on your feet all day. Nowhere to park at the hospitals I worked in either, crappy hospital facilities (we didn’t even have a tearoom!) and always in person (nature of the job!) And then there is the CPD to log and HCPC membership fees to pay for… and progression really needs a masters qualification…

In the end, I changed career (again) and been working as a data analyst. More chance of progression, options to work from home, better money, no shift work….. I would love to recommend being a BMS because it was such a rewarding job, but it was just so hard to actually get to do the job. And now that I am in my 50s, I don’t think I would have the energy to do it.

If you are serious about it - apply for a job as a MLA (assistant) first, band 3. See how long it takes you to get a job, because it can be competitive, and do it for a year or so before committing to studying. If you already have a degree, 4 years plus just to get to band 5 NHS doesn’t seem worthwhile to me.

Original poster

realist123 · 24/08/2025 10:18

OneDaySucks · 23/08/2025 22:18

I trained as a BMS back in the 90s (well, MLSO back then…) when the pay was crap and no-one wanted to do the job. I then re-joined the register about 10 years ago when I was mid 40s. Also Transfusion related. I really enjoyed the work - interesting, important, felt valued….really rewarding job. A bit of patient contact (not much), some responsibility but only working within scope of competence, so not overly challenging.

In the end, I only lasted 2 years. Jobs that were Mon-Fri 9-5 were really hard to find and there was a lot of competition for them, so the reality was a requirement for a lot of shift work and/or being on call. In the end, I got a maternity cover but was then turned down from a permanent contract because the lab manager didn’t like my child care arrangements (go figure).

I am now totally disillusioned with the profession - there is always a lot of talk about a lack of qualified and experienced BMS staff, but newly qualified staff are expected to work as MLAs and do portfolios and stuff just to get their foot in the door, which doesn’t seem fair. I didn’t feel that there were many jobs available to apply for when I was looking. Even without shifts it can be hard work physically, on your feet all day. Nowhere to park at the hospitals I worked in either, crappy hospital facilities (we didn’t even have a tearoom!) and always in person (nature of the job!) And then there is the CPD to log and HCPC membership fees to pay for… and progression really needs a masters qualification…

In the end, I changed career (again) and been working as a data analyst. More chance of progression, options to work from home, better money, no shift work….. I would love to recommend being a BMS because it was such a rewarding job, but it was just so hard to actually get to do the job. And now that I am in my 50s, I don’t think I would have the energy to do it.

If you are serious about it - apply for a job as a MLA (assistant) first, band 3. See how long it takes you to get a job, because it can be competitive, and do it for a year or so before committing to studying. If you already have a degree, 4 years plus just to get to band 5 NHS doesn’t seem worthwhile to me.

Thanks for these thoughts. I’ve read a few similar stories online from people who work in BMS and there seems to be a lot of burn out and people leaving the profession for the reasons you’ve stated. I’ll try and get a MLA job first , I did think about that and then see how I find it. It’s a lot of studying and commitment so would want to make sure my heart is in it.

OP posts:

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 24/08/2025 13:44

There are lots of other jobs/careers in biomed that aren't in the NHS. I make novel immunotherapies in a biotech company - nearly everyone has a degree in some variation of biomed.