Here in the UK, because of the global pandemic, along with budget cuts, NHS backlogs, declining mental health, austerity, staff shortages, and much more besides, healthcare in general, is in need of robust solutions that provide longevity and quality.

 

While there are signs of things improving slowly but surely, the NHS still needs support, which is why so many doctors and nurses from overseas are doing their bit, along with UK healthcare professionals.

Locum or the flexible workforce is in great demand and continues to support the staffing issues both in the NHS and private sectors across the UK, but which spaces are being filled the quickest, and where is demand the greatest?

If you’re considering a career in medicine or are already in the business but are looking for a position, it pays to know where demand is greatest and which career avenues are the most prosperous.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the UK’s most highly sought-after core medical specialities.

 

Oncology

The sad reality is that we will always need oncologists as cancer is such a prominent disease here in the UK, and sadly, in other parts of the world.

Oncologists specialise in cancer treatment, diagnosis, and care, with the field of oncology having three primary areas, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.

Because there are so many different forms of cancer, there are many different fields of oncology for specialists to get into. For example, there are oncologists specialising in breast cancer, blood cancer, bone cancer, stomach cancer, etc.

Oncologists do everything from making a diagnosis to prescribing and carrying out treatment while also offering support, help, and advice.

 

Child Psychiatry

Child and adolescent psychiatry is also in demand in the UK at the moment, sadly, because children’s mental health does appear to be declining.

As a result of increased awareness of children’s issues, such as physical and emotional abuse and bullying, the UK has seen a sharp increase in demand for doctors specialising in child psychiatry.

Child psychiatrists work with children and young adults who suffer from poor mental health, helping them to overcome their trauma, manage their symptoms, adopt healthy coping strategies, and generally improve their mental health and their outlook on life.

They may also offer help and support to the child’s family/families as well.

 

Ophthalmology

The UK seriously needs more ophthalmologists as currently, there are just two professionals for every 100,000 individuals.

This, combined with the effects of ageing, increases in type-2 diabetes, and so many people spending so many hours staring at a screen, has resulted in demand for ophthalmologists sky-rocketing across the United Kingdom.

Ophthalmology is a field of medicine which specialises in the eyes and vision in general. Ophthalmologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent medical conditions affecting the eyes and vision in general, using a combination of medicine and surgery.

Whether it’s treating eye infections, or removing cataracts, as an ophthalmologist, you’ll deal with all things eye-related.

 

Radiology

Radiology is another core medical speciality here in the UK that is very highly sought-after.

Radiology is a field of medicine which utilises images of the body’s organs in order to diagnose various illnesses and diseases

Radiologists can perform a wide range of procedures, including CT scans, Mammograms, MRIs, Ultrasounds, and much more besides. They will then take these images, examine, and interpret them to determine whether or not there are any problems before giving their results to clinical doctors.

Due to the fact that radiology plays such an important role in the diagnosis of disease, it’s easy to see why the UK needs so many more radiologists.

 

Haematology

Finally, last, but by no means least, we have haematology.

Haematologists specialise in the blood, namely diagnosing and treating patients suffering from blood and bone marrow disorders.

Haematology is all about diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the blood, so things such as anaemia, issues regarding the red and white blood cells, leukaemia, lymphoma, clotting issues, platelet issues, haemophilia, and much more will all be diagnosed and treated by a haematologist.

 

There you have it – some key areas that need support and solutions at pace. All specialties within medicine and surgery are in need of healthcare workers and specialists at the moment as staffing is an issue. These are just some of the main areas requiring doctors and specialists. If you are a healthcare worker or specialist and looking for a flexible lifestyle, and flexible work-life balance, have you thought about joining the flexible workforce? We support the NHS and private sector with quality healthcare workers who are dedicated and passionate about their roles.

If you’d like to know more, contact us for more information and chat with one of our friendly recruitment consultants.