Health & Social Care

Healthcare Science

Healthcare Science
Health services

Environmental Health
Health and Safety

Biomedical scientists (also known as medical laboratory scientific officers (or 'MLSOs') work in hospital laboratories in both the public and private sectors, laboratories of the Health and Safety Executive, the Health Protection Agency, the Medical Research Council and the National Blood Service and in independent pathology laboratories. Posts for trainees in chemical pathology, histopathology and microbiology are quite widely available, since most District General Hospitals in this region have laboratories for these disciplines.

Laboratories for other disciplines (e.g. blood transfusion, cytology, immunology) tend to be found in major cities, especially in teaching hospitals. There are only two accredited private sector laboratories in this region, one in Bingley and one in Leeds.

In order to obtain a post as a trainee, you should ideally have a relevant degree accredited by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Applicants with a relevant degree that has not been accredited by the HPC may still be accepted for training, but they will need, in the first instance, to undertake further study and the subsequent period of practical training will be longer.

For more information about working in biomedical sciences please see information in our Science and Technology sector.

Useful links:

Institute of Biomedical Science

Includes information about careers in biomedical science/medical laboratory technology.